Kennedale girls repeat as UIL 4A champs with 6-0 rout
Led by a hat trick from senior midfielder Abigail Olmos, Kennedale successfully defended its UIL Class 4A girls soccer title Thursday with a 6-0 rout of Jasper at the Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex.
“To make it all come together is awesome,” said Kennedale coach Michael Strange, whose Wildcats added to their first UIL 4A title last year. “The girls had it on them all year. We told them you’re not going to get the calls, things aren’t going to go your way because you’re the favorite team, and they handled the pressure.”
Olmos, and Kennedale (27-2), needed 21 minutes to get that first goal against Jasper (23-4-1), then everything went the Wildcats’ way from there.
We told them you’re not going to get the calls, things aren’t going to go your way because you’re the favorite team, and they handled the pressure.
Kennedale coach Michael Strange
on repeating as defending champions“All year we’ve had some teams that packed it in and some that have come at us,” Strange said. “They were able to handle that, and they’re just a great group of girls.”
Olmos, who was named the championship game MVP, collected her three goals in the span of just nine minutes.
A precision pass from freshman Eryka McInytre on the left wing led to a second goal by Olmos, in the 25th minute, then a shot off a rebound in the 30th minute gave Olmos the hat trick and Kennedale a 3-0 lead.
I got a hat trick, oh my gosh! I expected maybe one goal, but not three.
Kennedale’s Abigail Olmos
“I got a hat trick, oh my gosh! I expected maybe one goal, but not three,” Olmos said. “I guess I was there to follow up. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. I did not expect this at all. I’m really surprised and thankful.”
McIntyre made another nice cross that led to Bailey Crowley’s goal in the 38th minute, and Kennedale took a 4-0 lead into the half.
SMU signee Allie Thornton made it 5-0 in the 42nd minute when she dazzled the crowd by dribbling the ball for about 50 yards through the Jasper defense before firing past the keeper from 15 yards out.
It’s hard to say goodbye, but I guess I can’t be too upset because we ended the best way possible.
SMU signee Allie Thornton
ending her career with back-to-back state titles“I just saw the space I had, I took advantage of it,” said Thornton, last year’s championship game MVP. “I tested my luck and tested myself, and took the shot. Luckily it went in.”
Senior midfielder Cara Hunt got the last goal, in the 47th minute, when she lofted the ball just under the crossbar from 30 yards out.
“We’ve all come so close the past couple of years,” Thornton said. “It’s hard to say good-bye, but I guess I can’t be too upset because we ended the best way possible.”
This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 8:49 PM with the headline "Kennedale girls repeat as UIL 4A champs with 6-0 rout."