By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com
MINERAL WELLS (APRIL 4, 2017) — Every year Texas has had a Class 4A in soccer, the Stephenville girls have been among the “Sweet 16.”
Stephenville (21-4) is headed to a third straight regional tournament after striking quick to leave Brownwood behind en route to a 3-0 win in a Region I-4A quarterfinal Tuesday afternoon at Ram Stadium. The Honeybees will face Melissa in the Region I-4A semifinals Friday (the final is Saturday) at Birdville Fine Arts and Athletics Complex. A start time has not been determined.
Hayleigh Beam scored two goals in the opening 6:11 and assisted on the third goal with 21:24 remaining in the second half. Freshmen scored and assisted on all the goals from Stephenville.
Beam’s first two assists each came from Gracie Bales – the first on a cross that Beam fired home just 3:04 into the game, the second on a through ball on a fast break, drawing the keeper out to the top of the box where Beam rolled it past her into the net.
“We are a fast starting team, but we haven’t started that quick yet,” said 10th year Stephenville head coach Casey Weil. “We played two great balls and Hayleigh finished them both and it was a perfect way to start.”
Beam also reflected on the fast start following the victory, Stephenville’s third this season over Brownwood, which did defeat the Honeybees once in district play.
“I think we were making a lot of good passes and working together, showing the ball and communicating, and it worked out,” said Beam. “It means a lot (to reach regionals), it shows that hard work can get you there. We just have to keep it up.”
She believes the Honeybees are playing their best soccer at the right time.
“I think we’re playing our best because we’ve learned how to work with each other really well,” she said. “We have such a close bond with each other, and that helps.”
Ciara Johnston scored the third goal on the sixth chance in a span of 11 minutes for Stephenville early in the second half. Beam earned the assist with a well-placed corner, with Johnston getting heading it sharply into the net. That ended an assault from the 49th to 59th minute by the Bees, including a cross from Johnston that just missed Beam in front of goal in the 49th, a shot wide by Johnston in the 52nd, a shot on goal from Johnston but saved in the 54th, a Beam header just over the crossbar in the 57th and a juggle by the Brownwood keeper that she covered just in time with Bales streaking forward in the 58th.
Brownwood did not make its second entrance into the attacking third until 25 minutes into the match, and while the Lady Lions did finally maintain possession more over the final 15 minutes of the initial half, they did not generate any promising scoring chances. They took the first shot and earned the first corner in the second half, but Stephenville keeper Madison Wyly, yet another key freshman on the young Honeybee side, never seemed truly stressed while keeping the sheet clean.
Wyly and the Bees have not allowed a goal in three playoff victories, the previous two a 7-0 bi-district rout of Burkburnett and a 5-0 area-round blanking of San Elizario. Stephenville has surrendered just six goals all year.
Wyly has help, of course, with anchors in senior defenders Savannah Alford and Kalee Wright, as well as from a midfield and offense that has possessed the ball much of the season just as they did in Tuesday’s playoff.
“We don’t give anybody anything, we make them earn it and that’s what you have to do to be successful,” said Weil. “Savannah and Kalee in the back are so smart and strong; it’s going to take a heck of a soccer player to get through on them.”
The other regional semifinal Friday is between Kennedale, a 2-1 winner over Midlothian Heritage Monday evening, and Mineral Wells, which stunned Abilene Wylie, 1-0, also on Monday.
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