'Dogs win second straight game
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER

CLOSE, BUT AT LEAST IT WAS A WIN - Kilgore's Will Estel (right) and a Chapel Hill defender jockey for position, as Estel's teammate, Fidel Cedillo (2, left) looks on. Kilgore won Friday's District 17-4A game, 2-1, for the Bulldogs' second straight win. Kilgore's boys visit Hallsville on Tuesday night; the girls will host Hallsville.

By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

Playing in one of the toughest soccer districts in East Texas, Kilgore High School's varsity soccer team has been up and down in the first round of district play.

But for the last two games, they've been up, and played well - and they're now on a winning streak.

The Bulldogs got a big, big win here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium on Friday night, outlasting Chapel Hill in a 2-1 game that could have easily been 5-1 Kilgore at halftime - the Bulldogs had 11 shots on goal in the first half alone, including a couple of open looks, but just couldn't hit the net.

They did, however, hit the net enough times for the win. Garrett Fields scored with 38:44 left in the game to tie Chapel Hill at 1-all, and then just over five minutes later, Will Estel broke that tie with a goal on a header. Kilgore held Chapel Hill scoreless the final 33 minutes of the contest and got the victory.

The Bulldogs are now 3-4 in District 17-4A, trying to finish in the top three for a playoff berth. Kilgore will be away twice next week: the 'Dogs will visit Hallsville on Tuesday, and visit Athens on Friday. Friday's game at Athens marks the beginning of the second round of district play.

The Lady Bulldogs also faced Chapel Hill on Friday night, but at press time, the News Herald had little information on that game - Chapel Hill was leading 4-2 in the second half.

The Lady 'Dogs are coached by Amanda Walzel, and haven't played a home game this month (their last home game was a Jan. 25 contest against Marshall). They'll be home twice this week, though, hosting Hallsville on Tuesday, then beginning the second round of district by hosting Athens on Friday.

• Kilgore's boys JV on a roll: Coach Joey Pippen's boys junior varsity team is red hot, having beaten Chapel Hill Friday, 4-0.

Kilgore's boys JV is 6-1 overall, 5-1 in district play, and will try to add to that win total Tuesday at Hallsville.

Against Chapel Hill, Troy Knight scored twice: once off an assist by Edger Torres, and once unassisted. Daniel Ellis scored off another assist by Torres, and Torres scored, as well, off an assist by Robert Davidson.