Slowly, but surely, the Paris Ladycats soccer team is learning to win the close matches against quality opponents as last week’s results indicate.
On Tuesday, sophomore Katy Hall’s header with five minutes remaining proved the decisive difference in a 1-0 win over 2015 regional semifinalist Crandall. The Ladycats ended the week at Wildcat Stadium on Friday with a 2-1 win over 2015 regional quarterfinalist Kaufman. This time Paris needed some defensive plays to secure the win after the Lady Lions scored their lone goal with 5:31 left in the match.
Goals by Hall (assisted by sophomore Estephany Balderas) and junior Tieren Gates had given Paris a 2-0 advantage when Kaufman’s Perla Figuero cracked the Ladycats defense by turning the left flank and passing to a wide open Vanessa Montes, whose left-footed kick from 10 yards out crossed the goalmouth and bounced off the right post into the net.
The Lady Lions stayed agressive trying for the equalizer. Paris sophomore sweeper Sarah Bloodworth made a nice clear on one attempt, junior goalie Lindi Hamner was able to control a direct shot from 15 yards out on another scoring chance, and Hamner ran down and secured a loose ball following a free kick from 40 yards out on a third opportunity.
After those scary moments, the Ladycats offense took over and just missed insurance goals on kicks from 20 yards out by senior Monica Silva and sophomore Laney Madding that just missed wide right. The referees also missed an obvious handball violation against Kaufman when a ball hit a Lady Lion on the elbow of a raised arm.
Paris, now 6-7-2, has a bye week before finishing out pre-district play on Feb. 16 at another quality opponent, 2015 regional finalist Pleasant Grove.