Honeybees show off full deck against Mineral Wells

Casey Weil addressing team — Stephenville head coach Casey Weil visits with his team at halftime on their way to a 3-0 District 4-4A victory over Mineral Wells. || Photo by BRAD KEITH

By BRAD KEITH

TheFlashToday.com NEWS & SPORTS – FREE & LOCAL

STEPHENVILLE (February 13, 2015) — With their deck of cards near full for the first time in District 4-4A play, Stephenville’s girls gave those in attendance at Stephenville Soccer Complex Friday a bold reminder of just how good they can be.

With the presence of key players normally busy bouncing basketballs on a Friday evening came a raised level of speed and precision. Other standouts were able to return to their natural positions and everything had steady flow few teams can match.

Mineral Wells certainly couldn’t match it. After defeating the shorthanded version of Stephenville in each club’s district opener a 10 days prior, The Lady Rams were little more than a speed bump for the full version of the Honeybees.

Bayleigh Chaviers scored the third of her six first half shot attempts in Stephenville's 3-0 win over Mineral Wells Friday. || Photo BRAD KEITH — Bayleigh Chaviers scored the third of her six first half shot attempts in Stephenville’s 3-0 win over Mineral Wells Friday. || Photo BRAD KEITH

Speed was the killer as Mineral Wells had no one to keep up with junior strikers Bayleigh Chaviers and Skylar Chipman, and each had goals by halftime.

Head coach Casey Weil was pleading for his girls to feed Chaviers from the opening moments of the match, and the Bees were quick to respond. Chaviers fired one on goal that was saved, then missed just high before the third time proved to be the charm. The Miami pledge made it 1-0 and continued to apply pressure, firing six shots in the opening half.

Chipman was also difficult to handle, routinely winning races out wide to set up attacks. She also got loose for a goal to make it 2-0 by halftime.

Junior forward Skylar Chipman scored the second goal for Stephenville during the first half Friday. || {Photo by BRAD KEITH)

Tatum Sharp plays soccer full-time and is always applying pressure, and Friday was no different. She broke through with the only goal of the second half, and the defense and dominant midfielders handled the rest.

Mineral Wells did manage the occasional attack, but Jordyn Howle made the couple saves she had to, and Mikayla Hobbs got back and blocked one away on the Lady Rams’ best scoring chance of the night. It was the second straight 4-4A shutout in goal for Howle, and the Bees are now 2-2 in district to show for it.

Keeper Jordyn Howle has shutouts to her credit in each of Stephenville's District 4-4A victories. || Photo by BRAD KEITH — Keeper Jordyn Howle has shutouts to her credit in each of Stephenville’s District 4-4A victories. || Photo by BRAD KEITH

Cassidy Cline is the lone missing card in the deck. Like last season, the senior has elected to play no soccer until the completion of basketball season. Chaviers, Chipman, Hobbs and Lyndi Graham have all been bouncing between the two sports. The basketball team opens playoff action Monday against Vernon.

Stephenville will have its more complete version again on the soccer pitch Tuesday when the Bees host district leader and ninth-ranked Abilene Wylie.