by JASON GORDON
Hays’ Stephanie Segovia has the Hays girls soccer team kicking in the right direction as the playoff season nears. The Lady Rebels currently sit in third place in the District 51-4A standings with one regular season game remaining. (Photo by Rudy Gonzalez)
Sometimes tying your opponent in soccer only leaves a team frustrated, but the Hays girls soccer team has gained much confidence because of two particular games in which no one came away a winner.
After a scoreless tie earlier in the non-district season against Boerne Champion, the third-ranked team in Class 4A at the time and a squad that beat Hays 7-1 in the playoffs last season, the Lady Rebs once again managed a 0-0 tie with district-leading Dripping Springs last week.
This is a Dripping Springs team that has yet to be scored on this season in District 51-4A.
Hays head coach Ryan Race credited the play of his entire defense, and in particular that of sweeper Kelli Uresti, against the Lady Tigers.
“Our girls know how to come out and play some very solid defense,” Race said. “I was very proud of the tie, but hopefully we’ll see them again in the playoffs and it will be our turn to beat them.”
Race also credited the play of his goal keeper Alissa Christian.
“Both Kelli and Alissa did an outstanding job defensively,” Race said. “We moved Kelli back to sweeper and she did a great job leading the defensive charge.”
Hays didn’t have the same swagger when it knocked off San Marcos 2-1 on Friday night, although the score could have been more lopsided.
The San Marcos keeper made saves in six different one-on-one situations against would-be Hays scorers. After trailing 2-0, the Lady Rattlers finally scored a meaningless goal on a controversial penalty kick with no time left on the clock.
“We had plenty of opportunities,” Race said. “We know the score could have been more to our advantage, but I think we had a few tired legs after the game against Dripping Springs.”
Marissa McCann scored in the first half to give Hays a 1-0 lead, and Uresti crossed a pass to Natasha Anderson, who headed it in from the post, to close out the scoring for the Lady Rebels.
Hays improved to 8-3-2 in district with a win over Seguin on Tuesday night, and has only one regular season game left, Saturday against Canyon at Shelton Stadium.
If Hays stays in third place in the district, the Lady Rebs will likely play Lake Travis in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. That could potentially set up a third-round matchup with district rival Dripping Springs.
“That’s what we’re hoping for,” Race said of the potential rematch against the Lady Tigers. “We feel Lake Travis is beatable. We’ll definitely have to show up and play a good game, and we’ll really be looking forward to going up against Dripping Springs again if that’s the way it plays out.”
Hays will likely begin its playoff run on Tuesday, March 23, at a site to be determined.
