It was tough back and forth game of fairly evenly matched players. But, in the end, the Hays Lady Rebel soccer team beat East View 2-1, advancing to the second round of the playoffs.
Earlier in the year, the two teams had faced each other in January’s Rebel Cup.
Georgetown East View Lady Patriots came into the game, having taken third in their district.
With the win Tuesday night, next Hays will play Rouse on Thursday at Shelton Stadium in the next round of playoffs. Game time will be announced.
East View Patriots were the first to get on the scoreboard, at 17:27 mark in the first half.
The Lady Rebels were pushing hard at goal at the 11:15 mark, barely missing their shot on goal. But they were not yet satisfied with their shots, as sophomore Mariah Gaitan drove up the right side of the field and passed to freshman Kayla Humphries, who came pushing through the pack, shooting and scoring to tie the game 1-1 at 7:59 in the first half.
“We prepared this week by working on strong passing and getting the ball to feet. It paid off,” Humphreys said.
Another push to score by the Rebels at 5:51 missed the goal, flying left. The teams played back and forth for the rest of the half with no score.
The Lady Rebels came out in the second half hard with numerous shots on goal. At the 21:21 mark, Hays’ Callie Torres got off a shot that hit the back of the net. The Lady Rebs led 2-1 and never allowed another score.
Sophomore Torres said, “We knew their offense would be strong and our defense had to be stronger. They stepped up tonight and shut down every goal scoring attempt from East View.”
Late in the second half, with crowds going crazy, and referees trying to keep the pushing and shoving under control, both teams were fighting to score again. In the last two minutes of the game, Savannah Derrick almost took a backward kick into the goal, and followed 30 seconds later with a headshot that went high.
A jubilant group of players took their job across the field at Shelton Stadium, shouting in anticipation of their next match.
How will they focus on the next game? “ We will just play every game like it’s our last,” Torres said.
Hays will play Rouse at Shelton Stadium Thursday at 7 p.m.
