By Spencer Spilman.
Despite playing in windy, drizzly conditions, the Hays Rebel soccer team swept its cross-town challengers, the Lehman Lobos, 2-0 Tuesday night at Shelton Stadium.
Both teams’ defenses and goalies handled the weather well, while the offenses struggled for most of the game. Possession changed back and forth in the middle of the field and both teams tried to get the break that would open it up for a goal.
Near the end of the first half, the Rebels got the ball in a position to score after Chris Humphreys dispossessed the Lehman defender.
Above: Hays High senior Nick Perry (13) gains leverage on a Lehman High player during Tuesday night’s rivalry game at Shelton Stadium. Below: Lehman senior goalkeeper Mikey Torres (right) tries to stop a shot attempt from Hays’ John Hinnekamp. The Rebels took center stage, defeating the Lobos 2-0 and earning the season sweep over their crosstown rivals. (Photos by Tracy Stirman) | |
Humphreys sent a perfect pass to the feet of Christian Chavez who fooled the Lehman goalkeeper and found the back of the net with just eight minutes left in the half, putting Hays in the lead 1-0.
Rebels Coach Jason Burnett said the team found the recipe for beating the Lehman defense.
“We realized we weren’t getting access to the corners and the wings. We really tried to expose the outside of the field in the second half,” Burnett said.
As the second half got under way, Lehman fought hard to even the score. Just six minutes into play, Michael Diers had a chance and as he tried to beat the keeper to the ball, the two collided and the Rebel goalie went down in pain. The ref wasted no time in pulling out a yellow card for the game’s only booking.
With a cold, steady drizzle coming down, the second half went much like the first. The few shots that found their way to the goalie were long attempts from well outside the penalty box and both defenses did a good job of keeping the ball away.
However, just like the first half, with eight minutes left in the second, Hays forward John Hinnenkamp listened to his coach and broke free down the outside. One quick move past the defender and another to beat the goalie and he sent the ball into a wide open net for the team’s second goal.
“Coach said to cut away from the space you want to create,” said Hinnenkamp.
The space he created led to the second goal and that’s how it would end- Hays 2, Lehman 0.
Hays is back in action Friday at Cedar Creek while Lehman is off until next Tuesday when they travel to Bastrop.
