Hays’ Dylan Divine (left) hip checks a St. Michael’s player for possession during the Lady Rebel Cup soccer tournament. Hays finished 1-1-2 in the tournament’s toughest pool, beating Marble Falls and tying both Sherman and St. Michael’s. (Photo by Cyndy Slovak-Barton)
by JASON GORDON
First-year Hays High girls soccer coach Cole Reynolds’ goal was to test his team before the district season started.
Reynolds has certainly accomplished that mission so far.
Hays hosted the Lady Rebel Cup over the weekend and went 1-1-2 in the toughest pool in the tournament, failing to advance to one of Saturday’s title games.
“We should be in good shape heading into district,” Reynolds said. “Out of the 12 teams we’ve played and scrimmaged, nine have been Class 5A, and all of those are playoff teams. There’s no doubt we’ve faced some stout competition.”
In pool play at the Lady Rebel Cup, Hays tied St. Michael’s 1-1 with the help of a Kelli Uresti goal early Thursday before Hays used two more Uresti goals in the first half to coast to a 3-1 victory over Marble Falls Thursday evening. Megan Blanks scored an insurance goal off an assist from Jessica Cruz for the Lady Rebs in the second half.
“The Marble Falls game was about as well as I’ve seen us play all year,” Reynolds said. “There wasn’t anything to be unhappy about. Marble Falls historically has a pretty strong team. We made good crisp passes, and looked very strong all game long. It was the kind of play I hope I see out of us the rest of the season.”
Hays ran up against Class 5A juggernaut San Antonio Reagan Saturday morning, and lost to the sixth-ranked team in the state 2-0.
“That’s about as close as I could come to being pleased with a loss,” Reynolds said. “No one had scored on them all season to that point and I think three goals was their closest game. Reagan has been to the final four in state four times that I know of and we played very well against them.”
The Lady Rebels finished off their tournament with a 0-0 tie against Sherman High School.
Hays had a chance with the game with a dramatic last-second shot, but it sailed less than a foot right of the goal.
“It was our fourth game in two days and we weren’t as sharp as I would have liked,” Reynolds said. “We had a lot of opportunities we didn’t take advantage of. I was disappointed we didn’t make it to any of the trophy games.”
Later Saturday, Canyon Lake High won the consolation title, Akins captured the third-place game and Hendrickson upset San Antonio Reagan 2-1 to win the Lady Rebel Cup.
“Overall, it was a very good tournament,” Reynolds said. “I think it should give us a good idea of what the competition in the playoffs will be like.”
Hays went on to knock off Giddings Tuesday night to open the district season and will next play at home in non-district action against Canyon Lake Friday night. The Lady Rebs will resume district play the next Tuesday night at LaGrange before returning home next Friday night to play Smithville.
