Kelli Uresti scored a goal in the second half against Bastrop to give Hays a 2-1 lead Friday night at Shelton Stadium, but the Lady Bears came back to make it a 2-2 final to clinch the district title. Hays is already assured a playoff spot and will try to wrap up second place in District 49-4A this week. The Lady Rebels host Lehman at Barton Middle School Friday night, starting at 7:45 p.m. (Photo by Cyndy Slovak-Barton)
by JASON GORDON
The Hays girls soccer team proved it could definitely play with Bastrop, but came up just short in its quest for a district title.
The Lady Rebs took the lead twice Friday night against the first-place Lady Bears at Shelton Stadium, but each time Bastrop scored the equalizer in what turned out to be a 2-2 tie.
Hays needed a win over Bastrop to tie the Lady Bears for first place in the District 49-4A standings. The Lady Rebs are undefeated in all their other 49-4A games.
Bastrop has now all but clinched the league title, and Hays will likely finish second. The Lady Bears came into the game undefeated and untied in district action.
“Both teams fought until the final whistle,” said Hays senior Lena New. “I think we left it all on the field. It was a great high school soccer game.”
Hays took a 1-0 lead in the first half on a goal by freshman Bracie Harris, but Bastrop came back to tie the score 1-1 at halftime.
Kelli Uresti gave the Lady Rebs a 2-1 lead with a goal in the second half, but once again Bastrop tied it up.
Hays now must concentrate on its final two district games, the last of which will be against cross-town rival Lehman Friday night at Barton Middle School beginning at 7:45 p.m.
“These are the last two district games I’ll be playing for Hays High School,” New said. “I don’t want this team to be a memory but to create a legacy.”
To do that, Hays must excel in the playoffs once it gets there.
“Going into the playoffs, I know we’ll be competing against the best but we are a strong team,” New said. “I know we are capable of a lot. If we play to each other’s strength there’s no telling what we can do.”
Manor, Elgin or Pflugerville Connally will likely be Hays’ first-round playoff opponent when the postseason starts March 24-26.
Hays head coach Cole Reynolds is looking forward to the playoff run he feels his team can make.
“I’m really excited about the potential this team has in the playoffs,” Reynolds said. “The game against Bastrop showed me a lot. We played very well as a team and that should give us a very big boost heading into the playoffs. We just need to finish this final week of the regular season strong.”
