The chatter in the press box on Thursday during the finals of the State UIL 4A Girls Championship went something like this -?This team is unbelievable.? ?They?re not really a 4A team are they?? ?I don?t know why they even played this game.? ?They might as well move them up to 5A.? {{more:[read more]}}
KHS senior Abby Olmos receives MVP award for title game on Thursday
They were referring to the Kennedale LadyKats and their march through the state playoffs in Georgetown this week, something akin to Sherman?s March through Georgia. Kennedale took no prisoners and left little in their wake. In the two games played this week Kennedale allowed no goals and just 3 shots during 160 minutes of play while scoring 12 goals in their sweep of the state finals.
Wednesday, the LadyKats defeated the champion of Region 2, Kilgore by a score of 6-0 and then on Thursday, the Kats defeated the Champion of Region 3 & 4, Jasper by the same identical score.It was the most dominating state playoff performance in UIL soccer history including 4A, 5A and 6A boys and girls soccer. No team has scored that many goals in the two games nor had that big of victory margin.
42-1-1 in 4A last two years …Class 4A soccer was just created last year and Kennedale has now won the first two titles and have not lost to a 4A playoff opponent yet. In two years of play including the regular season, the Kats have lost only one game to a 4A team (last year to Stephenville 4-0) and had a 1-1 tie against Melissa. That is a combined 4A record of 42-1-1.Jasper came out fighting …
In the title game, Jasper came out fighting and in the first five minutes of play kept Kennedale back on their heels defending their net. But despite Jasper?s aggressive play they never got a shot off. That would not come until the latter half of play in the game when they managed to get three shots off, to no avail.“hat trick” for Olmos …
Meanwhile Kennedale LadyKat senior {{t2:Abby Olmos:
}} got the first three goals of the game (hat trick). Her first was an unassisted goal 21 minutes into the game followed by the 2nd off an assist from freshman {{t2:Eryka McIntyre:
}} and then a rebound shot nine minutes later. Sophomore {{t2:Bailey Crowley:
}} scored Kennedale?s fourth goal of the half with an assist by McIntyre.
In her first year on the team McIntyre has made an impression being third on the team with 26 goals and tied at third with 17 assists. Crowley scored her 9th and 10th goals of the season in the two games of state playoffs.goals in all but two games this season …
Senior {{t2:Allie Thornton:
}}, who has goals in all but two games this season, showed her skills when she scored Kennedale?s 5th goal with a direct shot from 15 yards out after dribbling down the field for 50 yards. Thornton with team highs of 42 goals and 21 assist this year has committed to SMU next year. Senior {{t2:Cara Hunt:
}}
Cara Hunt popped in the final goal for Kennedale, a perfect kick from 30 yards out that fell into the net just over the head of the keeper. Hunt has 20 goals this season with 11 assist
Abby Olmos with her three goals and two assist earned the MVP for the game. Olmos who finished the season second on the team with 27 goals and 20 assist, has signed with Midwestern State.Also the championship team and playing were {{t2:Kylie Deel:
}} (Sr), {{t2:Claire Hamilton:
}}(Sr), {{t2:Lauren Otts:
}} (Sr), {{t2:Mikayla Harris:
}} (Sr), {{t2:Sara Calzado:
}} (Jr), {{t2:Baylee Gow:
}} (Jr), {{t2:Emily Hamilton:
}} (Jr), {{t2:Alondra Olmos:
}} (Jr), {{t2:Cristian Fox:
}} (Jr), {{t2:Daphne Hunt:
}} (So), {{t2:Megan Jakubisin:
}} (So), {{t2:Tori Mclean:
}} (So) and {{t2:Marisa Echtle:
}} (So).
