H.S. soccer: Stephenville boys, girls open playoffs with shutouts; Brownwood teams advance

Staff reports

ALEDO – It was a pretty good day for Justin Rhodes

. Rhodes, who coaches both the Stephenville boys and girls soccer teams, watched each unit win their Region I-4A playoff openers Thursday at Bearcat Stadium.

The boys, the defending region champs, beat Alvarado 2-0, while the girls blanked Ferris 4-0.

The girls got the fun started. Victoria Cameron scored two goals, while Ashley Perez and Vanessa Gonzalez added one each for the unbeaten Honeybees (20-0-1).

Madison De Los Santos played the first three-quarters of the game at goal for Stephenville, before Izzy Brunson finished to combine for the shutout against Ferris (13-10-1).

“It was a good day,” Rhodes said. “They came out. They played well. Everybody got to play. So, that was nice to see. Our entire roster was able to get on the field and get their feet wet in the playoffs and be a part of that atmosphere with mom and dad and relatives looking on.”

Stephenville plays either Bridgeport or Fort Worth Carter-Riverside in the area round next week.

The Honeybees, who won state in 2017 and 2019, have lost only one game the [ast two years – a 1-0 decision to Midlothian Heritage in the region semifinals last season.

Celina beat Heritage in a shootout for the state title.

The fun continued as Giovanni Nava and Dylan Cabrera each scored a goal, and Diego Chavarria notched the shutout in the boys game against Alvarado (11-11-1).

“They played fantastic, moved the ball well,” Rhodes said of his team. “They’re unselfish, worked hard for each other.”

The Yellow Jackets, who lost to Celina 5-2 in the state semifinals last year, advance to play either Fort Worth Castleberry or Fort Worth Benbrook in the area round.

BOYS

Brownwood edges Kennedale

At Waco, Noah Barron scored two goals, while Jakson Yoder, Cristyn Villareal and Raven Prado had one each as Brownwood got by Kennedale 5-4 in a Region I-4A boys soccer game at Waco ISD Stadium.

“It was a bit closer game than we wanted, but we came out on top. We’re happy with it,” Brownwood coach Michael Westerman said.

Barron put the Lions up 1-0 in the first four minutes of the game, but Kennedale (11-5-4) got two quick goals to lead 2-1. However, Brownwood scored twice before halftime, including Barron’s second goal, to lead 3-2 at the break.

Brownwood led by at least a goal the rest of the way, but Kennedale got a late goal after the freshman Prado had put the Lions up 5-3 to make for a dramatic ending.

“Kind of had us on our toes again,” Westerman said. “We just had to play that last minute and half hard, because they were coming at us in full force. We were able to hold them off.”

Westerman said Kennedale didn’t get too many good looks at the goal, but he said a few breakdowns led to easy scores, putting goalie Wyatt Jackson in some tough spots.

“It kind of exposed us a little bit. Communication between our backline and goalkeeper is something we’ll have to tighten up on going into next week’s game.”

It’s the second consecutive year the Lions have a won their playoff opener.

“Back-to-back seasons as bi-district champions is awesome,” Westerman said.

They beat Lubbock Estacado 4-3 in bi-district last year. It was the program’s first playoff win since 2016. San Elizario beat the Lions 4-0 in the second round last year.

Brownwood (13-11-1) draws Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis (24-1-1) in the second round early next week.

GIRLS

Brownwood nips Godley in shootout

At Mineral Wells, Sidney Atkins, Brownwood’s sixth kicker in the shootout, found the back of the net to lift the Lady Lions over Godley in a Region I-4A bi-district soccer game.

Godley’s sixth shooter missed, setting up the game-winning goal by Atkins.

“It was a very, very long night, but it was rewarded at the end,” Brownwood coach Alexis Mosqueda said. “We’re thankful for that.”

The game was tied at 2 after regulation.

The Lady Lions (15-5-1) led 2-0 at halftime, thanks to goals by Kennedi Johnson and Jacklyn Lewis.

Godley (14-2) didn’t tie the game until 1:15 remained in regulation.

It still was tied 2-2 after a 20-minute overtime. So, the game was decided on penalty kicks.

That, too, went a little long, after both teams converted two penalty kicks each out of the regulation five each.

Ataleigh Constancio and Johnson each scored PKs. Brownwood goalie Noemi Ceniceros made three stops in the shootout.

The Lady Lions play either Benbrook or Castleberry in the area round next week.