The Paris Ladycats scored first, but the Mount Pleasant Lady Tigers rallied for a pair of goals to take a 2-1 decision Tuesday in varsity girls soccer at Wildcat Stadium
Paris, now 1-2-1 for the season, will host the R. K. Hall & Kings Classic tournament starting Thursday. The Ladycats’ first match will be at 2:30 p.m. vs. Denison.
Pictured: Estephany Balderas fires from 8 yards out to net the lone Paris goal
Tuesday’s pre-district match was a story of contrasting halves of play. Paris dominated action in the first 40 minutes and took a 1-0 lead with 20:52 left in the half when sophomore Estephany Balderas struck a deep throw-in by Emily Williams off the bounce from 8 yards out that beat the MP goalie to the short side post.
Balderas almost netted a second goal just four minutes later on a missile from 20 yards out, but the Lady Tiger goalkeeper made a diving save.
Despite maintaining constant pressure on the MP defense most of the first half, the Lady Tigers suddenly knotted the score with 12:01 left until halftime on a breakaway down the left flank and crossing shot that found the far corner post.
It looked like the Ladycats would respond, but they misfired on several good chances before halftime.
Momentum changed drastically in the second half, and the Lady Tigers took the lead, 2-1, with 35:19 left on a counter-attack. A long sweeping run down the right flank resulted in a shot from 10 yards out that traveled across the goalmouth and inside the far post.
MP controlled possession in the second half and had several more opportunities to add to the lead, but Paris goalie Lindi Hamner made a couple of nice stops, and deep defender Sarah Bloodworth swept away a pair of breakaways.