SOCCER SCARE | Bulldogs play to regulation tie with Center, then win in OT; girls rout Center

Kilgore freshman Jerson Avelar Flores (23) reacts after scoring a goal against Center in the District 15-4A opener for both teams Friday night here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium. Flores and the Bulldogs would score once more in regulation, then get a goal from Jordy Velasquez in overtime to beat Center, 3-2. (Photo by ALEX NABOR – ETBLITZ.COM)

Kilgore High School’s boys soccer team – playing without a few key starters, due to injury – stubbed their collective toe on Friday night at home, but didn’t fall all the way down, luckily.

The Bulldogs, playing host to Center here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium in the District 15-4A opener for both teams, beat Center in overtime, 3-2, after both teams scored two goals in regulation.

Kilgore hasn’t lost a district game since the 2021 regular season finale at Henderson.

But Kilgore and Center played to a 2-all tie to push the game into the extra session, then scored the only goal in overtime.

Kilgore’s girls soccer team won their district opener at Center, 6-0, although exact goals scored information wasn’t available at deadline for this story.

On Tuesday, Kilgore’s boys will play at Sabine, a 5 p.m. junior varsity start at James Bamberg Stadium, with varsity to follow, and the Lady Bulldogs will play Sabine at home, also starting at 5 with the JV game.

Friday, Jan. 26, both Kilgore teams will host New Diana, and that’s senior night, starting at 5 p.m. with the JV (boys JV may play at the field at Kilgore High; the other games will be played as usual at R.E. St. John).

Against Center Friday night, the Bulldogs had a fight on their hands, a physical game with a few important players not in the lineup due to nagging injuries.

Freshman midfielder Jerson Avelar Flores gave Kilgore an early lead, scoring with 31:15 left in the first half, and that score held up until after halftime, when Center tied it up.

Kilgore got back in front when Flores, just a few yards from the goal, got off a kick that appeared to hit a couple of players, and then went in, putting the Bulldogs up 2-1 with 22 minutes left.

But the Roughriders would put it in and tie it up again with just over 12 minutes left in the game – and then Kilgore keeper Chris Martinez had a fantastic save with 10:40 left that prevented the ‘Riders from going in front.

Kilgore had a handful of chances right before regulation expired to tie the game, but missed on three shots in the last two minutes. The game went to overtime – under University Interscholastic League rules, that’s two 10-minute halves.

In the OT period, another freshman midfielder, Jordy Velasquez, scored the only goal.

The Bulldogs remain undefeated, with an 8-0-2 record, and of course, 1-0 in district play. Kilgore’s girls are 4-2-1 on the year, and also 1-0 in district.

That’s using your head: Kilgore’s Enrique Salazar (13) vs. Center. (Photo by ALEX NABOR – ETBLITZ.COM)