Early goals and stellar defense aided the Hays Lady Rebel soccer team to a 3-0 win over the Lehman Lady Lobos Friday at Lobo Field.
The first five minutes remained fairly silent, as neither team got a real push on offense.
Lehman had the first real scoring opportunity as it worked its way into a corner kick eight minutes into the match.
Hays orchestrated a counterattack shortly via a shot on goal from Mariah Gonzales. Lehman goalkeeper Felicia Martinez made the save, her first of seven total in the match, but Hays’ offensive attack would not stop there.
Over the next five minutes, the Rebels got off three shots, and finally connected on a cross that forward Zoe Briceño finished with 23 minutes left in the first half. Briceño finished the game with 1 goal on 2 shots.
It did not take long for the Rebels to get back on the offensive. Adept passing and communication set up a goal from Rebel Sydney Franklin, which extended Hays’ lead to 2-0. Hays dominated possession of the ball for most of the half.
Hays struck again in the final five minutes of the half when Robin Benevidez scored on a cross from Grace Davis. The goal gave Hays its third goal of the half, which gave them a 3-0 lead at intermission.
The match remained stagnant the rest of the way. The first real bit of action came just over ten minutes into the second half, when Lehman forward Messly Navarro broke through the Rebel defense and had a one on one with the Hays goalkeeper Alexis Spears, who came up to the ball.
While Navarro was able to get the ball past her, the ball rolled out of bounds and Lehman was unable to get on the board.
The Lady Rebels improved to 3-5-4 in district, while the Lehman Lady Lobos dropped to 4-9-1.
