Eagle Staff Report
TYLER -- The Bryan Lady Vikings earned their first playoff soccer win in school history Tuesday night.
They did it on the road against a team that had not lost at home all year.
Bryan scored the only two goals of the second half for a 3-1 win over Tyler Lee in a Class 5A Region II bi-district soccer match at Red Raider Field.
"We talked to them today about legacy and making history," Vikings coach Amy Pettibone said. "We knew we were coming up an amazing team. These seniors came ready to play and their goal was to get through the first round of the playoffs, and they did it.
"I don't even know how we did it. It's like finally luck went our way."
Bryan (17-8-2), which finished fourth in District 12-5A, moved into the area round against Richardson Berkner (14-5-2), a 3-1 shootout winner over Garland. The site and time will be determined Wednesday. District 11-5A champion Tyler Lee's season ended with an 18-3-2 record.
Dani Fellows gave Bryan a 1-0 lead with 14 minutes left in the first half, racing onto a pass from senior Laura Briner to score the go-ahead goal. It was also the first playoff goal ever for the Lady Vikings.
"Dani moved forward with her speed," Pettibone said. "When she scored, you could tell Tyler Lee was frustrated. They hadn't lost at home and hadn't given up many goals."
Tyler Lee scored with four seconds remaining in the first half to tie the game. Taylor Tilson's pass set up Johna Germany for the goal.
Jessica Chicas regained the lead for Bryan, taking a throw-in from near midfield and blasting a shot from 40 yards out. Bryan clinched it off when Lee allowed an own-goal off a corner kick by Fellows. In a scramble in front of the Lee goal, a Lady Raider defender kicked in the ball with six minutes remaining.
Taylor Erickson took a shot that Tyler Lee was unable to clear.
"It's a tough one to take when you don't give up many chances and you lose a game like that," Lady Raiders coach Chris Woodard said. "That's our own fault. We've got to score."
Lee nearly did early, putting heavy pressure on Bryan's defense.
"The first 12 to 15 minutes, they really took it to us," Pettibone said. "They pounded us. It was like we were playing kickball, not like we play."
Under the late-afternoon sun, Pettibone said the Lady Vikes were weary, and they had to make an adjust to their defense.
"They played hard and played great defense," Pettibone said. "Allison Kalinec has an asthma attack, a really bad one, and we had to move Brittany Little into the back."
The three goals matched the most allowed by Lee on the season, with the other coming against top-ranked Coppell.
5A Girls
A&M Consolidated 4, North Mesquite 0
WACO -- A&M Consolidated scored twice off corner kicks in the second half to roll to a 4-0 win over North Mesquite at Waco ISD Stadium.
"Things are pretty good," A&M Consolidated coach Stoney Pryor said. "We scored in the first half and were into the wind in the first half. We put some pressure on them with corner kicks."
The Lady Tigers put away the win with goals off corner kicks by Morgan Anderson, who scored the final goal. The Lady Tigers took a 2-0 lead with 33:13 left when Blake Martin headed the ball back to Emily Smith, who scored.
Less than two minutes later, Smith made it 3-0 on a header off Anderson's corner kick. Anderson got the final goal, with 3:18 left, thanks to an assist from Lindsay Allen.
Mayra Patlan, who celebrates a birthday Wednesday, scored the first-half goal.
"Vickie Wilhelm had the service and Emily almost got the goal, but Mayra was right there to score," said Pryor of the opening score, which came with 32:06 left in the first half.
Megan Eikenhorst was in goal for the first half for the Lady Tigers. Christina Salas completed the shutout in the second half.
Consol (17-6-2) will play either Carrollton Creekview or Garland Sachse at area.
5A Boys
Mesquite 3, Bryan 0
WACO -- The Mesquite Skeeters scored twice in a 30-second span late in the first half and held off Bryan for a 3-0 win at Waco ISD Stadium.
Mesquite advanced to the area round with a 17-6 record. Bryan's season ended at 8-12-2.
"We went into the wind in the first half and held up pretty good, but they scored a goal from 35 [yards] out," Bryan coach Tommie Allmon said. "They took a great shot, and 30 seconds later they got another goal."
Bryan had some opportunities to score in the second half, but could never break though.
"If you could take out about a minute, and just 30 seconds in the first half, we played well," Allmon said. "In the second half, we had two of three breaks, but didn't make the play. In the end, we had numerous opportunities, but could not put it in."
Monday's game
4A Boys
Brenham 3, Beaumont Central 0
The Brenham Cubs (15-5-6) won their area-round game 3-0 over Beaumont Central. Tyler Pieper scored twice and Drew Clanahan was in goal for the shutout. Cody Anderson opened the scoring for Brenham.
The Cubs will face either Nederland or district foe Huntsville in the Class 4A sectional round at a site and time to be determined. Brenham, which had a bye at bi-district, is in the playoffs for the 15th straight season.
Beaumont Central had advance to area with a 2-1 area win in overtime against Lumberton.