Kicking off their season this past weekend, the defending state champions, the Kennedale LadyKats soccer team, downed three opponents to win the Kennedale Regional Cup on Saturday. {{more}}
Twelve teams entered the tournament with 6 teams ranked in the preseason regional coaches poll. The tournament used a random matchup format that didn?t include pool or bracket play, but a point system in the first two days of play that determined the last day ranking.
On day one, the LadyKats started the tournament by playing Princeton. Ironically, Kennedale started their season with the last team they play in 2015. in the state championship game. The Kats won 3-0 on two scores by Allie Thornton within a minute of each other and one by Cara Hunt who scored with seconds left in the game to cap off the win.
On Friday, the LadyKats were matched up against Stephenville. In the preseason coaches? poll, Stephenville was ranked #4 and Kennedale ranked #1 in Region 1. Allie Thornton for Kennedale scored first with 20 minutes in the first half. Alondra Olmos scored 5 minutes later when she put one up the center to put the Kats at 2-0. In the second half of play, Abby Olmos scores a direct hit to make it 3-0 with 25 minutes to play. Nine minutes late Cara Hunt got a Kennedale goal to push the score to 4-0. The final goal for the Kats and the game came from Bailey Crowley with just about 6 minutes to play. The win and the score earned the LadyKats a slot in the championship game on the Saturday.
Temperatures in the 30 with windchill the low 20?s at Kennedale Regional Cup
Saturday was definitely high school soccer in winter with temperatures in the 30s but with a wind chill down in the low twenties. In the championship game Saturday night, Kennedale faced off against Paris. Paris had earned their shot at the trophy with a 1-1 tie against 5A North Forney and a 10-0 rout of Lake Worth.
As in their other two games, the Kennedale LadyKats took control of the game early with a 5-0 first half, that would be all that was needed. Allie Thornton scored the first two goals, followed by Alondra Olmos with one. Cara Hunt scored the 4th goal on a penalty kick with 12 minutes in the half and then Abby Olmos capped off the scoring with goal #5 just before half.
In tournament play, Kennedale did not allow a goal and outscored their opponents 13-0. Allie Thornton (Sr) led with 5 total goals followed by Cara Hunt (Jr) 3, Alondra Olmos (Jr) 2, Abby Olmos (Sr) 2 and Bailey Crowley (So) 1. Assists Daphne Hunt (So) 2, Lauren Otts (Sr) 1, Allie Thornton 1, Taylor Fox (Jr) 1. Saves Goalie – Isela Calzada (Jr) 7.
