LADY ‘DOGS CLINCH TITLE! | Kilgore shuts out PT, captures district championship with playoffs on horizon
Kilgore High School’s girls soccer program hit some milestones on Friday night.
And with how decorated both programs are, boys and girls, THAT is not an easy thing to do.
Coach Daniel Garcia’s Lady Bulldogs are back on the top of the mountain in District 15-4A – they’ve won the district championship, and in his first season!
It’s reminiscent of a year ago, when Hector Peralez, the former Kilgore soccer standout himself, took over as head coach of the storied Bulldogs program and led them to a district title, a regional championship and a state tournament appearance.
The Lady ‘Dogs journeyed to Pine Tree’s Pirate Stadium Friday night for a district showdown, as Pine Tree’s re-classification as a 4A program has them as once again rivals for Kilgore, Henderson and other 4A mainstays.
Kilgore went in on an 11-game winning streak.
Make it 12.
Kilgore’s girls won, 4-0, running their record in district play to an unblemished 12-0.
“Two district games left,” the always-positive Garcia told ETBlitz. “District champions for the first time in seven years!”
The Lady Bulldogs had a tough week, hosting always-tough Henderson on Tuesday, and to set up that history-making win over Pine Tree, they’d have to take out the Lady Lions. Henderson is the defending district champion, and the meetings between the two programs are always physical and intense.
Keeper Julieta Gonzalez and the Lady ‘Dogs’ defense managed to hold Henderson scoreless, and on the other end, get a goal each from Lexi Lara and Phenix Rivers, a 2-0 final.
Reese Burgess, Natalie Hudman, Brittany Yzaguirre and Aliyah Veloz have been among the defensive standouts this season for a Kilgore team that has only allowed two goals in the 12 district contests.
And that set up Friday’s battle with Pine Tree, which went into the game third in the district standings behind KHS and Spring Hill.
The Lady Pirates played Kilgore tough, but more fantastic defense with that 4-0 final, and plenty of offense to get the job done: Esperanza Garcia scored twice, and Angelica Canchola and Rivers each scored a goal.
Speaking of Rivers, she was named the Class 4A Greater Texas Ford Dealers Female Athlete of the Month back on Feb. 18, a statewide award. The senior has had quite a career – really, this whole senior class has – and Rivers’ scoring mark is a noteworthy achievement.
With the goal scored against Pine Tree Friday night, Rivers stands at 98 career goals scored. She’s just two away from hitting No. 100.
The Lady Bulldogs have just two regular season games left: at Tatum on Tuesday night, and at Center on Friday, March 7.
The playoffs will begin soon after, with the ultimate goal of returning to the state tournament at Birkelbach Stadium in Georgetown. All of the Class 4A title games are the same day: Thursday, April 10.
