'Dogs get sweep of W'house
Now in fourth
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

IN THE PLAYOFF HUNT - Kilgore's Denis Hilgert (22), an exchange student from Germany, clears the ball from the front of the Bulldogs' goal, as teammate and KHS goalkeeper Everardo Delmas (00) looks on. KHS beat Whitehouse Tuesday night, 3-0, the Bulldogs' second straight District 17-4A win. With that victory, Kilgore is now in fourth place, one spot out of the playoffs, with six games left in the regular season. Kilgore's girls lost at Whitehouse on Tuesday night, 4-0. Both teams face Lindale on Friday night - the boys visit Lindale, while the girls will host LHS here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium.

The District 17-4A schedule has been a bit of a struggle this year for both Kilgore High School soccer teams - and that's not because the KHS teams have played poorly.

There seems to be a lot of very good soccer played in this district, and both Kilgore soccer squads still have the chance to make the postseason, even though time in the regular sea- son is running out (six games remain).

The Bulldogs took a huge step Tuesday night by beating Whitehouse, 3-0, here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium. With the win, Kilgore sweeps the Wildcats this season, and moves into fourth place, just one spot out of that top three in the district that you have to be in to make the playoffs.

"We're still in the hunt," said KHS head boys coach Kris Duplissey. "We've played well enough lately to be in this position."

It was Kilgore's second straight win, and sets the table for an exciting couple of games. District-leading Lindale moved its record to 9-0 in district play on Tuesday with a win over Marshall. Marshall is only two games in front of Kilgore. KHS will play both Lindale and Marshall in the next two outings - the Bulldogs visit Lindale on Friday night, and then host Marshall on Tuesday. KHS-Lindale on Friday will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the junior varsity contest.

Much like they did at Whitehouse in January, the Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead Tuesday night and never looked back. Kilgore got two first-half goals (one from Will Estel with 34:09 remaining, off an assist by Garrett Fields) and one by Corey Coston with 25:52 left in the first half. The only goal scored in the second half came with 10 minutes left, a goal by Fields off an assist by Fidel Cedillo.

• Kilgore 5, Whitehouse 0 (junior varsity): Coach Joey Pippen is looking like a soccer genius these days.

The JV Bulldogs have lost just one district game all season, and are playing for keeps. Five different players - Edgar Torres, Troy Green, Troy "T.J." Knight, Justin Adams and Robert Davidson - scored for Kilgore against the Wildcats.

Kilgore is now 8-1 in the JV district standings, headed into Friday's showdown at Lindale.

• Whitehouse 4, Kilgore 0 (girls): Coach Amanda Walzel's varsity Lady Bulldogs couldn't manage much offense against a very good Whitehouse team that's currently in first place in the girls' 17-4A standings.

The Lady Bulldogs are in fifth place, though, with six games left, many of those against teams they have defeated once this season already. The Lady 'Dogs will play here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium on Friday night, beginning with JV at 5:30 p.m.

• Whitehouse 2, Kilgore 1 (girls JV): Jessica Dukes scored the only goal for coach Alice Crocker's JV Lady 'Dogs.