Home	Featured	Recap of busy Lady Cats weekend
FeaturedLocal NewsLocal SportsSports
Recap of busy Lady Cats weekend
by Tyler Lennon January 10, 2022
The Sulphur Springs Lady Cats headed down to Kilgore for a soccer tournament this past week. The teams together are showing improvement and are proving to be strong competitors on the field. Each team played a game Thursday and Friday. With Saturday's game being canceled due to weather.
Thursday saw the Junior Varsity team win against Texarkana 2-1. The JV girls played very well, throughout the entire game. They controlled the game from the beginning and kept a hold of the field only allowing one goal. "We had plenty of chances to score more goals but unfortunately we struggled to finish," stated Coach Javier Aguayo.
The Varsity girls faced off with Bullard for their first game of the tournament and struggled during the first half, when Bullard made their three goals. The second half saw a "different" varsity team enter the field. Either way it was a tough loss for the varsity girls. They struggled to connect the balls to the right players and made mistakes allowing goals to be scored. The team went into the second half trailing 3-0 and were finally able to connect the ball with the net early on. "Second half was a better half for us, we were able to control the game and create more chances. We kept getting shots on goal and couldn't convert," said Aguayo. Injuries are also hurting the team at the moment, there were six starters out for Thursday's game. The game ended with the score 3-1 for Bullard.
Friday saw great play again by the JV team against Carthage. The ladies played an amazing game to come out on top with a 4-1 win. JV Lady Cats dominated the game from the first whistle. They scored three goals in the first half while the other one was scored in the second. In the second half "we instructed them to focus on passing the ball and positioning since that is what we struggle with tougher opponents," said Aguayo. The JV team is seeing some great movement and growth, early in this season. We look forward to seeing the girls grow throughout the remainder of the year.
The Varsity Lady Cats had a better day Friday, in that they walked away with a win against Spring Hill 2-1. The girls had multiple chance to score and were able to complete a goal by Vanessa Lara off a set piece on a corner kick during the second half. Their second goal came from a penalty kick by Hayley Schultz, which was created by a hand ball in the box.
The girls did give up one goal, by a mistake from the defense, but managed to bring things back together to keep the ball out of the net the remainder of the game. "I'm glad we shook things off from Thursday's night loss and started with a great first half against Springhill," Aguayo remarked. With injuries on Varsity the coaches have had to move up some JV players to fill in the gaps. Which is good for those girls to get more touches on the ball and they are getting plenty of playing time, which should help the team be ready for district.
I wanted to help you get to know your Lady Cat players. I first talked to Senior, Vanessa Lara to get a feel from her how things are going and what she feels like her level of play is since returning from a torn ACL and meniscus the previous year. We hope to see her continue to play and help control the middle of the field this season.
How have you been playing since your injury? "Not the same. It's always in the back of mind for possible reinjury. So much of the recovery is also mental and having to think about the risk makes it hard," Lara said.
What are your goals for the team this year? "Make it to playoffs."
As a senior are you looking to play in college? "No."
Where do you hope to go? "Maybe Commerce not sure yet."
What is your favorite thing about soccer? "Just the game."
By Allison Libby-Thesing
Law Enforcement Appreciation Banquet 2022
Wildcats climb to No. 14
Celebrate MLK Day 2022 with Hopkins' trailblazing black citizens
Chamber, Shoe Sensation to host wine and cheese night
Locals Weaver and Davis lend voices to NE Tex arts as The Heroes musical act
Cowboys season comes to end after home playoff loss
Lions pick up road win
Wildcats win close road battle over Longview
At Home with Kayla Price 1/14
Larry Buster kids' fishing day at Peavine Pond Feb. 12
Region 8 to host Texas Retired Teachers benefits seminar
Hopkins students named to PJC Dean's, President's list