By Kyle Lehnick
The Hays Lady Rebel soccer team secured an important 2-0 victory over Austin High Friday night at Shelton Stadium. Austin came into the game one match ahead of Hays in the standings.
The win puts Hays in third place among 14-6A teams, which places them within the top four spots for a playoff berth.
The Lady Rebels dominated possession in the first half. Hays allowed only one shot on goal in the final two minutes of the first half, while putting eight shots of their own on goal, scoring twice.
“I knew we had to play possession ball, that is what we do,” Lady Rebel head coach Brent Holcomb said. “If we had a chance against them, we couldn’t play their game.”
Hays’ Mariah ‘Yaya’ Gonzales claimed the first goal with 23:19 left in the half. The play was a header via Kayla Humphries’ corner kick that was executed to perfection.
Kayla Humphries’ impressive ball striking found the net again with 17:08 remaining in the first half.
Humphries’ bending strike came from outside the right side of the 18-yard box, splitting defenders and stumping the Austin High goalkeeper.
The Maroons came back rejuvenated in the second half, controlling possession and finding more scoring opportunities.
Hays goalkeeper Courtney Limmer seemed to be caught a third of the way up field and far from her net on two occasions.
The Lady Rebels defense line recovered and thwarted Austin’s chance at a goal.
“We have a great keeper and I think she’s easily the best keeper in the district. She does stuff even when she’s out of position to make forwards miss,” Holcomb said.
No goals came in the second as Hays registered seven shots to Austin’s five.
The much-needed victory comes off a 6-0 loss on Feb. 23 to undefeated district leader, Westlake.
In that match, Hays took the Chaps to halftime knotted up at 0-0.
“That was an accomplishment,” said Coach Holcomb. “When you play a team like Westlake, part of you says you just want to make their life hard. We did that.”
Hays hosts Bowie on March 4 at 7:30 p.m. as part of a three-game home stand to complete the 2016 regular season. Hays hosts Bowie on March 7, followed by hosting Anderson on March 11.
