KHS, LIONS SPLIT IN SOCCER | Lady Lions take girls win; ‘Dogs win in Hendo-land
Kilgore’s Lady Bulldogs lost a hard-fought, physical game Tuesday night at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium (above, in a photo by ALEX NABOR – ETBLITZ.COM), and the Bulldogs outdueled the Lions, 4-1, in Henderson (below, special photo from JOVANNY CERVANTES).
Rivalries took a back seat on Tuesday night in two different locations between Kilgore and Henderson, as the District 15-4A positioning became more important in both.
Unfortunately for Kilgore’s girls, and for Henderson’s Lions, they came out on the short end.
Kilgore’s Lady Bulldogs hosted their game against Henderson, looking to avenge a 2-1 loss earlier this month. But the Lady ‘Dogs saw a seven-game winning streak come to an end, as a first-half goal by the Lady Lions was enough to escape R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium with a 1-0 win.
In Henderson, the Bulldogs came in on a three-game winning streak and made it four, in more ways than one: Kilgore outscored the Lions 3-0 in the first half and came back down Highway 259 with a 4-1 victory.
The Lady Lions got the first, and what turned out to be the only, goal of the game with 32:48 left in the first half.
Kilgore had its chances, most notably a just-missed shot-on-goal by Phenix Rivers with 21 minutes left, and a flurry of shots on goal for about 10 seconds in front of Henderson’s goal at the 16-minute mark, including a missed header by Reese Burgess.
Kilgore goalkeeper Esperanza Garcia had at least five key saves in the contest.
In Henderson, it was a scoreless game until16:48 left in the first half, when Kilgore senior Adan Reyes scored off an assist from Jerson Avelar Flores (1-0 Bulldogs).
The floodgates opened. Just one minute – one MINUTE – later, Kilgore was awarded a corner kick. Jobani Chavez crossed the ball in and Reyes scored AGAIN, a second goal for both he and the Bulldogs, who took a 2-0 lead with just over 15 minutes left in the half (2-0 Kilgore).
Three minutes later, Kilgore would score yet again. Jacob Contreras scored off a deflected shot by Enrique Salazar (3-0 KHS). And that would send it to the half.
They played the bulk of the half without a goal, and then with 15 minutes left in the second half, Kilgore went up 4-0 when Javier Baide scored off an assist from Contreras, right in front of the Lions’ goal.
Henderson scored its lone goal in the final five minutes for the final score.
So here’s how the District 15-4A standings set up, now, in both boys and girls divisions.
Kilgore’s boys sit atop the 15-4A standings, with an 11-1 record (coach Hector Peralez’s Bulldogs are 18-1-2 overall). Sabine is second (8-3), and Henderson, third, the top four teams making the University Interscholastic League’s Class 4A playoffs.
Henderson is all alone at the top of the 15-4A girls standings, unbeaten with a 13-0 district record. Kilgore is 15-4-1 on the season, and 11-2 in district, the two losses, of course, both to Henderson.
Both Kilgore teams will be back in action on Friday, but in different forms. Kilgore’s girls have another district game on Friday – they’ll play at Spring Hill, varsity-only, at 5 p.m.
The Bulldogs will go out of district to play at Caddo Mills, also varsity-only, at 5:30.
Next week is spring break, which can sometimes lead to changes in schedules. As of right now, Kilgore’s boys are scheduled to play Tuesday, March 12, at Carthage with a 10 a.m. junior varsity start, varsity to follow, and Kilgore’s girls are scheduled to host Carthage that night, Tuesday, March 12, with JV at 5 p.m., varsity afterward.
Next Friday, March 15, the Bulldogs are set to host Tatum, again with JV at 10 a.m. and varsity afterward, and the Lady ‘Dogs are set to travel to Tatum, varsity-only at 5 p.m.
If something changes, it’ll be announced here on ETBlitz.com.