Bates presides over Lady Indians' win

[KFDM COOP]

Bates presides over Lady Indians' win

HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER

The Port Arthur News

NEDERLAND -- Tuesday night constituted both a finish and a start of sorts of the Port Neches-Groves girls soccer team.

  The Lady Indians (9-5 and 7-2) completed the first half of their 20-4A schedule on a high note, defeating Silsbee 3-0 at Nederland's Prather Field.

  But it also turned into the first of hopefully many PN-G victory trails this winter for seventh-year head coach Aimee Bates. Out until last week on maternity leave, the PN-G girls coach returned in time for last Friday's Nederland game, but Nederland prevailed in a shootout in that outing.

  PN-G took command of a 2-0 halftime margin and got its season's seventh shutout win from junior goalkeeper Breane Martin.

  "We're in third place (in 20-4A) at the end of the first half by one shootout (to Nederland) and one goal (a 2-1 loss at Lumberton)," Bates said. "We're disappointed about the first half but the main thing is that we try to stay focused on playing our game."

  The Lady Indians scored in the opening minute when senior forward Victoria Williams finished off Jenna Rhame's crossing pass from just left of the 18-yard box. The PN-G girls made it 2-0 by the 15th minute when Marisa Elam's header came right after a Brittany Ansel corner kick.

  Rhame tapped in a cross from freshman outside midfielder Natalie Hager for PN-G's lone second-half goal.

Baytown Sterling girls 10, Port Arthur Memorial 0

  BAYTOWN -- Three-time all-district forward Shannon Allport surpassed the 20-goal season plateau with a hat trick, knocking in three scores and leading Baytown Sterling over Port Arthur Memorial 10-0 on Tuesday at Stallworth Stadium.

  Allport guided the Lady Rangers as they improved to 8-5-1 and 4-2 under first-year head coach Rusty Mathews. Paola Bear added two goals, while five other Sterling players added one apiece -- Morgan Hollingsworth, Iris Martinez, Erin Yzquierdo, Amanda Denton, and Rachel Mescall.

  Memorial (6-9 and 0-6) concludes the first half of the 21-5A schedule Friday at home against Humble.

Nederland boys 9, West Orange-Stark 0

  NEDERLAND -- Strong 4A playoff contender Nederland collected five one-touch finishes in the first half and rolled easily over West Orange-Stark 9-0 on Tuesday at Bulldog Stadium.