Soccer: Kilgore Ladydogs fall 7-0 to Celina in regional semifinal

Published 5:08 pm Friday, March 28, 2025

By Audrey Blaschke

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The Kilgore Ladydogs fell 7-0 to Celina in the Class 4A Division 1 Region 2 semifinal match on March 28 at Sulphur Springs’ Gerald Prim Stadium. (Audrey Blaschke/Kilgore News-Herald)

SULPHUR SPRINGS — The Kilgore Ladydogs got shutout 7-0 by the No. 2 ranked Celina Lady Cats, ending their season in the Class 4A Division 1 Region 2 semifinal round on Friday.

The Lady Cats showed why they’re the team that’s won the last three state titles in a row, keeping the Ladydogs’ defense tied up on their side of the field most of the match. They scored three times in the first half, two goals by Grace Pritchard and one by Sammy Quiroz. In the second half, Celina’s Ryleigh Stifflemire, Quiroz, Hannah Holland and Payton Webb each put away a goal.

Kilgore finishes 18-4-2 for the season as district, bi-district and area champions, with much to look forward to as a program. When he took over as head coach this year, Daniel Garcia said he always had belief that they’d get this far.

“Once we were huddled after the game, I told the girls, especially my seniors, that they definitely left the program at a better place than what it was before I got there,” said Garcia. “It’s soccer. It’s part of it. Celina is what Celina is, there’s no denying that. At the end of the day, I’m proud we were able to still fight and still play, no matter what the score was.”

Garcia noted that was the most important thing for the team as a comeback slipped further out of reach. They just wanted to end the season still playing hard together. It’s a mark of how much they’ve grown as a team, on and off the field.

Kilgore has 11 seniors graduating this year, Natalie Hudman, Lexi Lara, Reese Burgess, Tracee Ferguson, Angelica Canchola, Ruby Almanza, Maci McNew, Phenix Rivers, Esperanza Garcia, Aliyah Veloz and Emily Jimenez. Seeing them play for Kilgore for the last time is a bittersweet moment, said Garcia.

“I only got them for a year. I know they’re going to go out there in the real world and they’re going to accomplish great things, and I can’t wait to see them come back next year and support us,” he said.

Celina (25-1), will move on to play Lindale in the regional final.

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