TYLER -- Lindale thought it had come a long way since an embarrassing early season loss to Hallsville.

The Lady Eagles proved it Thursday at Tyler Junior College's Pat Hartley Complex in the form of a 2-1 come-from-behind Class 5A bi-district playoff win against the same Ladycats team.

"Up until district, we did not win a soccer game," jubilant head coach Kristin Parson said. "We have worked through so many difficulties. Obstacle after obstacle. This team is one of the best teams I've ever been a part of. They care about each other. They're out there for each other. And they're working so hard for each other. That's one of the great things about our team. We have the heart and want to."

Baylee Williams, who scored Hallsville's goal, fights off Lindale defender Hope Williams.
Baylee Williams, who scored Hallsville's goal, fights off Lindale defender Hope Williams.
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Ashley Flores netted the game winner with 12:45 left in the contest. She put away a loose ball from the right side after Taylor Webb rattled it off and away from the left goal post.

The goal capped the response from a difficult start.

Lindale, the third-seeded team from District 16-5A, started the game with a stiff northern front breeze at its back and could not muster much wind-aided offense through the first 30 minutes.

Hallsville, the second seed from District 15-5A and 4-0 winners against Lindale earlier in the season, jumped ahead at the 13:58 mark of the first half. Baylee Streetman trapped a Lady Eagles goal kick about 30 yards from the goal and raced straight toward it with no traffic in front of her.

At the rate Lindale's offense was performing, and the fact the Ladycats would work with the wind in the second half, it seemed the backfield mistake would be the only break Hallsville needed.

Webb had an answer four minutes later to give the Lady Eagles a second wind.

She bent a shot from the right hash mark of Tyler Junior College's football practice field 18 yards into the left side of Hallsville's net for the equalizer. It was Lindale's first realistic shot on goal through the game's opening 31 minutes.

Down a goal inside the game's final 10 minutes, the Ladycats' attack become much more aggressive.

Lindale goalkeeper Kamryn York took an unintentional kick to the face under the seven-minute mark while diving out to stop a promising possession that reached her right flank. She continued to play for a minute but then left the game for two minutes to recover.

In the intermediate time, with a cold goalie in net, Lindale allowed zero shots.

Hallsville attempted two corner kicks inside the game's final three minutes.

York cleared the first attempt. The Ladycats committed a foul on their next attempt and surrendered possession to Lindale.

Hallsville never threatened again.

Lindale advanced to play Mansfield Legacy in the area round. Legacy defeated Dallas Adamson, 7-0, Thursday in the Metroplex.

The Lady Eagles will face Legacy toward the end of next week. State-mandated STAAR testing during the midweek will largely grind the soccer playoffs to a halt.

"As far as playing them, we play our game," Parson said. "We don't change our game for other people. That seems to be the best thing for us to do. Especially in district, that seemed to help us turn our season around. We play our game and keep our same tempo."

Lindale's Yemile Flores works to trap the ball in the Lady Eagles' 2-1 playoff victory at Tyler Junior College.
Lindale's Yemile Flores works to trap the ball in the Lady Eagles' 2-1 playoff victory at Tyler Junior College.
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