SOCCER SWEEP! | Kilgore soccer teams (all of ’em) sweep Carthage; at home vs. Tatum Friday A.M.
Kilgore High School’s soccer teams are driving toward the UIL Class 4A soccer playoffs like a pair of runaway locomotives.
Both the Bulldogs and the Lady ‘Dogs picked up wins over Carthage on Tuesday in afternoon games – Kilgore’s boys on the road, the girls at home at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium – by the same score, 4-1.
And both are in action at home on Friday against Tatum. Kilgore’s boys junior varsity will start it off at R.E. St. John at 10 a.m., and the varsity boys will play the middle game, roughly about 11:45. The varsity girls will finish it up, likely a 1 p.m. start.
What got finished up on Tuesday was Carthage – as in, all four teams, the varsity boys, girls and both JV squads.
In Carthage, Kilgore’s varsity boys beat CHS, 4-1. Javier Baide got the first goal off an assist from Adan Reyes, and Diego Rojas scored goal No. 2 off an assist from Leo Yzaguirre.
The Bulldogs’ final two goals were unassisted: Jerson Alevar Flores scored on a kick from about 30 yards out, coach Hector Peralez said, and then Reyes scored to close it out.
Kilgore’s varsity ‘Dogs are 19-1-2 overall, their lone loss of the season a road loss in Center about three weeks ago. Kilgore is 12-1 in District 15-4A.
The junior varsity Bulldogs won, 1-0, and are 7-1 in district play.
At home on Tuesday, Kilgore’s girls JV just finished their final District 15-4A game of the season with a win over Carthage on Tuesday; coach Jason Bragg’s team defeated Carthage to wrap it up.
The JV Lady ‘Dogs went 13-1 on the season, their only loss a setback to non-district opponent Tyler Legacy. They went 8-0 in district play.
In those 14 games, Kilgore’s JV girls only gave up two goals, the entire season, and outscored their opponents 80-2, just incredible.
In the varsity game, coach Todd BonDurant’s Lady ‘Dogs had a pair of shots on goal by Phenix Rivers and Ruby Almanza before Almanza put it in the goal with 30:28 left in the first half (1-0 KHS). Gloria Cedillo would also score in the first half, with 26:42 left in the frame, sending the Lady Bulldogs to the locker room with a 2-0 lead.
Carthage didn’t have a legit shot on goal the entire first half.
In the second half, though, while Carthage would score and cut the lead in half – Lexi Lopez did the honors with 25:18 left in the game – Kilgore would answer right back, with a goal by Maria Barron just over two minutes later (23:02), putting the Lady Bulldogs back up by two goals.
Rivers would punch one in (4-1) with 9:28 left, and that would be the final, although Kilgore had its other opportunities: Reese Burgess, Almanza and Cedillo each had shots in the second half that were either saves by the Carthage keeper or just missed.
Kilgore High School’s girls junior varsity team went 13-1 this year with coach Jason Bragg, went 8-0 in district play and outscored opponents 80-2. Yes, 80-2. (Courtesy photo)
