State Champs fall in region finals

The Kennedale LadyKat Soccer team, the reigning state 4A champion for two years running, scored in a scoreless region final game on Saturday only to see it mistakenly call back. The game would end in two overtimes tied at 0-0. {{more: CONTINUE …}}

 

It was what should be expected at this level in the playoffs, a well-played game. Stephenville run has continued to the state finals in Georgetown this week. So, if you have to be beaten, it should be by one of best teams playing now.

shutout Mineral Wells the day before …

Kennedale entered

the regional finals after defeating Mineral Wells 4-0 on Friday. Eryka McIntyre scored twice along with one

assist. Alondra Olmos and Hannah Biles each got a goal and Cara Hunt had an

assist. Sara Calzada successfully defended one shot on goal. Also Getting shots

on goal were Taylor Fox, Bailey Crowley, Jamie Najar, Baylee Gow, Cara Hunt and

Libby Beck.

 

both teams had their chances Saturday …

There was an ebb and flow to the game that never completely favored either team. Kennedale started out the aggressor early in the first half but Stephenville came back to dominate play going into the half. Multiple shots on goals by Stephenville fell short as LadyKat goalie Sara Calzada successfully warded off each shot. But, as the 1st half wound to a close, the score remained 0-0.

Kennedale did regain the control of the game in the second half, keeping Stephenville back on their heels for a good portion of the half.

It was hard fought game. LadyKat Alondra Olmos was knocked flat from a hit in the back but did return to play. Honeybee goalie Alyssa Northcutt was taken out of the game early after she crashed in the goal post going for a Kennedale kick. The senior eventually return to play in the penalty period to blocked all but 1 of Kennedale?s kicks to secure the win for her team. And in the closing seconds of the first half, Stephenville thought that Honeybee Gracie Bales was tackled in the penalty area by a Kennedale player, deserving a kick them. The referees did not agree.

 

the call …

But it was during the final 20 minutes of play that the missed call came for Kennedale. At the 19 minute mark in the game and with Kennedale bunched in front of the Honeybees goal, a Stephenville deflection send the ball careening to the sidelines where Kennedale?s Eryka McIntyre (So) controlled it. It seemed that she planned to take ball back up field to set up a new attack. This drew Stephenville?s defenders back away from goal. McIntyre, Kennedale?s sophomore phenom, then placed a well kicked ball back over the heads of the departing defenders towards the Stephenville goal where Cara Hunt headed it neatly into the net. For just a second there was elation on the Kennedale sidelines but just as quickly as it came it evaporated as the side judge ruled offsides on Kennedale. Replay told a different story.

 

Kennedale Head Coach Michael Strange later responded through a tweet, ?Soccer, like life, can be unfair but we must face our obstacles head on girls. We must rise after we fall. #NeverDone?.

 

extraordinary 4 years for these seniors …

For the LadyKats, it was a disappointing loss but one that was just part of an extraordinary four year run for the seniors on this team and for Coach Michael Strange. In 2014, Alondra Olmos was a freshman along with Sara Calzada, Baylee Gow, Emmy Hamilton, Cara Hunt and Taylor Fox.

Jenna Pickett was the head coach and Michael Strange, who had recently been hired as the head coach for the Wildcat soccer program was listed as assistant for the LadyKats.

The Kennedale LadyKats finished that year in first place playing in a mixed district with three 4A teams and two other 3A teams, Stephenville and Alvarado. A new 4A soccer division was still a year away. For the LadyKats, it was their first district title. (Note: The following year a new 6A division was created and each division was moved up i.e. Kennedale moved up to 4A).

 

already making noise as a soccer power …

 

The Kats (20-6-1, 7-3-0) went four deep in the playoffs that year, defeating Mansfield Summit, Trimble Tech and Lake Ridge before falling to Byron Nelson. (Byron Nelson went on to the state semifinals that year). No other 4A team had made it that far in the state playoffs. Kennedale was on the verge of a historic run.

Strange took over the reins of the LadyKats the following year. That year Kennedale laid claim to the first ever girls 4A state title in 2015 and then in a repeat performance won the title again in 2016. The Kats have only lost 12 games in the four year period and only 2 playoff games. They have won 94 games, tying 6 and wining all but 3 district games. The LadyKat have not lost a district game in over three years.

 

While all this doesn?t take the hurt out of the loss on Saturday, this is a winning team that has represented themselves and Kennedale well. And, the good news that there is still plenty of talent on the team to continue the run.

 

a season well-played …

Hats off to all the LadyKats for a season well played.