Borger had a huge week in two District 3-4A games getting wins against rivals West Plains and Randall on Tuesday and Friday night.
With first place on the line, the Lady Bulldogs (12-2-1 overall, 8-1 in district) and Lady Wolves delivered a match that felt every bit like a playoff atmosphere, playing physical and intense soccer. Borger scored a late goal that was the difference, striking twice in the second half to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
Borger controlled much of the early possession, but West Plains was organized and dangerous on the counterattack. One of Borger’s best early chances came when Chelsea Medrano threaded a sharp pass to Riley Lumpkin, forcing the West Plains keeper off her line to make a strong save in space, just minutes later, with a little under 20 minutes left in the first half, Lumpkin broke free, creating a clean look, just missing, hitting the cross bar, keeping the match scoreless.
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Aria Fernandez for the Lady Wolves, created a pair of great opportunities late in the first half, one of which was stopped by the keeper on a clean look at goal, and another on a threatening cross into the box, that she just missed connecting with a teammate.
Despite quality chances from both sides, the teams went into halftime locked at 0-0.
The second half opened with more intensity.
Just two minutes in, Chelsea Medina for Borger testedWest Plains keeper Bailey Dobrowolski, but she held firm.
A minute later, The Lady Wolves produced another dangerous moment of their own, with a cross in to the box, but the Lady Bulldogs escaped, as the ball slipped through untouched.
Then came the breakthrough. West Plains struck first, when Averie Alvarado found the back of the net, nine and a half minutes into the second half, giving the Wolfpack a 1-0 lead.
Borger didn’t panic, they answered. Seven and a half minutes later Lumpkin delivered the equalizer, tying the game at 1-1.
With nine minutes left in the game, West Plains threatened again, Aria Fernandez played a great ball forward, to Trinit Fernandez, but the go-ahead goal sailed just wide.
The Clock dwindled, with the biggest moment of the night still lingering, and it belonged to the Lady Bulldogs.
With just 1:28 remaining, Lumpkin once again made her presence known, pushing the ball up the sideline, past the defender, breaking free, slipping a pass between defenders, to Hadley Reed, who buried the game-winning goal in the back of the net, to secure the 2-1 victory for Borger.
After taking down West Plains, Borger travelled to Randall Friday night, for another playoff caliber match, and 53 minutes into the contest, it looked like as if it was going to be Randall’s night, but the Lady Bulldogs had other ideas, erasing a two goal deficit, in the final 27 minutes, with three unanswered goals, to stun the Lady Raiders 3-2, for their second statement win of the week.
Both teams came out aggressive, the game was back and forth, and both sides created fruitless early opportunities, keeping the match scoreless deep into the first half.
The game flipped in Randalls favor in a hurry though, as they took a commanding 2 goal lead in the span of 52 seconds.
With 16:30 remaining in the first half, Randall earned a free kick just outside the box, it was taken by Kyndal McClain who picked up her first assist of the contest, connecting with Kali French, who buried it in the back of the net, putting Randall ahead 1-0.
The Lady Raiders were not done, 52 seconds later, with 15:38 reaming on the clock, Randall earned another free kick. Kyndal McClain took the free kick, and placed another great ball inside the box, finding Lyla Williams, who put one past Borgers keeper.
Just like that it was 2-0 Randall, stunning the Borger fans. Borger didn’t fold though, they stayed poised and patient.
Riley Lumpkin created a couple of opportunities to close out the final few minutes of the first half, but quality goalkeeping by Brinley Haden, kept the Lady Bulldogs scoreless, sending the game to halftime, with the Lady Raiders leading 2-0.
The second half continued much like the first, very physical and evenly contested, but ten minutes into the half, Kyndal McClain nearly added a third assist to her total, with a great pass to Lyla Williams who’s finish sailed just high, keeping the Lady Bulldogs in the game. With 23:13 left in the game, Hadley Reed for Borger, broke through the defense and found the back of the net with a great finish, cutting the lead in half to 2-1.
The game shifted from there, The Lady Bulldogs’ pace picked up, and the pressure intensified.
With 18:29 remaining, Riley Lumpkin broke free once again, and this time the story was different, she would not be denied, Lumpkin buried the equalizer, tying the match at 2-2. Randall answered with chances of its own, but were denied by Borgers keeper.
With just 2:32 left on the clock, the decisive moment came. Hadley Reed delivered a dangerous cross into the box, finding Borger’s Joselyn Aguilera in stride, who confidently struck the ball, putting it in the back of the net.
The comeback was complete, Borger erased a 2 goal deficit, with 3 unanswered goals of their own, giving the Lady Bulldogs a 3-2 victory, and firm control of the District lead.
THIS PAST WEEK’S DISTRICT SCORES
District 3-5A Boys
Lubbock Monterey 2, Plainview 0
Lubbock Coronado 0, Amarillo High 0
Palo Duro 2, Lubbock-Cooper 1
Tascosa 1, Caprock 1
Amarillo High 2, Plainview 2
Lubbock-Cooper 4, Coronado 0
Caprock 2, Lubbock Monterey 1
Tascosa 4, Lubbock High 1
District 3-5A Girls
Amarillo High 10, Lubbock High 0
Tascosa 6, Caprock 0
Lubbock Monterey 8, Plainview 0
Lubbock-Cooper 3, Palo Duro 0
Caprock 2, Lubbock Monterey 1
Lubbock-Cooper 6, Coronado 0
Amarillo High 7, Plainview 0
Tascosa 7, Lubbock High 1
District 3-4A Boys
Randall 2, Perryton 1
Dumas 5, Hereford 0
West Plains 3, Borger 0
Pampa 2, Canyon 1
Dumas 6, Perryton 0
Canyon 5, Hereford 0
Randall 2, Borger 0
Pampa 3, West Plains 3
District 3-4A Girls
Pampa 3, Canyon 2
Randall 7, Perryton 0
Hereford 3, Dumas 0
Canyon 4, Hereford 0
Dumas 2, Perryton 1
West Plains 8, Pampa 0