Rose Hyak (left) and the Hays girls soccer team turned a 1-0 halftime lead into a 8-0 romp with a big second half in the district opener against LaGrange. The Hays boys also beat LaGrange 3-0. (photo by Cyndy Slovak-Barton)
By JASON GORDON
Both Hays High varsity soccer teams started the district season with wins over LaGrange last week.
The Lady Rebels led only 1-0 at the half before turning on the after burners in the second half. Hays’ second-half scoring onslaught led to an 8-0 victory.
“You always want to get that first district win,” said Hays girls coach Cole Reynolds. “To score eight goals, the first four of which came from freshmen, and to have six different players overall score was great.”
Goals came from Gabi Elsner (2), Mila Bustos (2), Kat Salmeron, Megan Blanks, Savannah Derrick, and Kelli Uresti with assists by Victoria Ratliff, Gabi Elsner, Lindy Mendoza, Sam Hollensbe, Savannah Derrick, and Riley Scarborough.
“Having our scoring come from multiple players instead of just a couple is a strength of this team,” Reynolds said. “It was something we were unable to do last year and I think it will be a real positive for us moving forward in district.”
The Hays boys varsity soccer team beat LaGrange 3-0 in its district opener, keyed by goals from Luis Beltran, Christian Varela and Billy Bolton. Kevin Mendoza assisted on Beltran’s goal.
“Winning the district opener is always a good feeling for the kids since non-district spent trying to work your system and get the players to fit in that system correctly,” Hays boys coach Jason Burnett said. “They always come into district a bit nervous and a win helps relieve that pressure and settle their nerves. We are still growing as a team. We have a lot of youth on the team and a lot of first time varsity players so they are still trying to find their place. We just need to continue to focus on the basics and we will be okay.”
