Hays won the third and final matchup of the year against the Lady Lobos with a convincing 2-0 victory at Shelton Stadium Tuesday that earned the Lady Rebels the second playoff seed in District 49-4A. The Lady Rebels advance to play at Pflugerville Connally Friday night at 6 p.m. in the bi-district playoffs. Lehman takes the third playoff seed and will host Pflugerville Hendrickson in the bi-district round Friday at 7 p.m. (photo by Cyndy Slovak-Barton)
By JASON GORDON
Although playoff implications were on the line during Tuesday night’s girls soccer contest between Hays and Lehman, it became apparent pretty quickly that this game was for pride and bragging rights.
After the two teams split games during the regular season, they finished tied for second place after the District 49-4A season ended last week.
Hays would win the third and final matchup of the year against the Lady Lobos with a convincing 2-0 victory at Shelton Stadium that earned the Lady Rebels the second playoff seed in District 49-4A.
The Lady Rebels advance to play at Pflugerville Connally Friday night at 6 p.m. in the bi-district playoffs. Lehman takes the third playoff seed and will host Pflugerville Hendrickson in the bi-district round Friday at 7 p.m.
Hays and Lehman could have flipped a coin for playoff seeding, but decided to play it off.
“There wasn’t a single girl on our team that wanted to flip a coin and maybe get third place,” said Hays head coach Cole Reynolds. “No one even blinked when we asked them. They wanted to settle it on the field.”
Hays won with a solid style of defense that allowed Lehman few scoring chances.
The Lady Rebels broke a scoreless tie when Jessica Cruz hammered home a goal with 15 minutes left in the first half. Kelli Uresti added added an insurance goal for the Lady Rebs in the second half.
“We knew we had to show them we were the better team,” Cruz said. “We absolutely did that tonight.”
Lehman’s best scoring chances came early in the second half as Mariah Tamayo, Max Soto, Shayla Seeger and Haley Parsons all had opportunities, but each time the Hays defense or Lady Rebel goal keeper Sarah Sellstrom was there to keep the Lady Lobos off the scoreboard.
“Our girls gave everything they had, but Hays was the better team tonight,” Lehman head coach Nauri Garcia said. “Still, I have tremendous confidence in our team heading into the playoffs. We only gave up nine goals all year, and if we can play that kind of defense Friday night we have a very good chance.”
Lehman has never won a playoff game in any sport, and the Lady Rebel soccer program hasn’t won in the postseason since they advanced to the regional finals in 2008.
“I think if the last few games we played are any indication, we have a chance to go far in the playoffs,” Reynolds said. “I think tonight’s outcome was so important to keep our momentum going.”
