Champs prevail in shootout following scoreless draw

Stephenville unbeaten after first loop through tough district

Advertisement
Stephenville and Natalie Elizondo are 3-0 after one of three loops through District 4-4A, and the Bees won each tightly-contested match on the road. || Flash media library photo by DAVID SWEARINGEN

Flash Staff Report
TheFlashToday.com

(February 23, 2018) — District 4-4A girls soccer is everything it’s hyped up to be, and on Friday at Lem Brock Field, it was a little more.

A little more action was needed after a scoreless draw in the first of three meetings between 2017 state champ Stephenville and Brownwood, who they have circled back around eliminate in the Round of 32 – regional quarterfinals – in each of the last two Region I-4A playoff tournaments,

Stephenville prevailed 3-2 on penalties, thanks in large part to the goal keeping prowess of Allysa Northcutt, who is building quite the reputation for winning shootouts, thanks in large part to stonewalling the majority of shooters on the Kennedale tries in last season’s regional championship match in Birdville.

Northcutt was at it again Tuesday, denying 3 of 5 while Stephenville scored 3 of its 5 on goals by Beatris Chavarria, Brinkley Harlow and Courtney Langley.

The Honeybees complete the first of three loops through the four team district unscathed, but make no mistake about the competitiveness. Every match has been tough, which is expected from a league that produced four of the eight Region I-4A quarterfinalists, two of the semifinalists and, of course, the Bees as regional and, ultimately, state champions.

The Bees won 1-0 at Mineral Wells, 2-1 on a goal with 1:25 remaining at Wylie and now this dramatic match at Brownwood.

The start to district is only better because Stephenville did it all on the road and has an entire loop at home coming up, assuming compliance from the weather, certainly no sure thing. The Bees moved matches to Mineral Wells and Brownwood and journeyed to Abilene to face Wylie as scheduled.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.