A year after making the UIL women’s soccer state semifinals, the Kingwood Park Panthers girls’ soccer team is off to another fast start this year. Thus far, the Panthers have played two tournaments, with the team going 6-1 in those tournaments.
Their season started in the Humble Classic with three matches in which the Panthers flexed their muscles.
The Panthers dominated their first match against Goose Creek Memorial, winning 5-1. In that match, Allie Byrd, Leah Hoyt and Bella Salazar all had goals for the Panthers.
The second match, against Galena Park, went much the same way. The Panthers won easily, 6-1, with Hoyt and Salazar once again scoring for the Panthers. Makenna Florez and Marilyn Perri also had goals.
In their final match of the Humble Classic, the Panthers took on Magnolia in what was their toughest game of the tournament.
Fortunately for K-Park, the only goal of the match went their way as Perri got the only goal of the match. The Panthers won 1-0 for a 3-0 record in the Humble Classic.
Last weekend, the Panthers played in the Brazos Valley classic, where they had four matches. In this tournament, Byrd in particular stood out.
In fact, in the first three matches, she was the Panthers’ entire offense as she scored all of K-Park’s four goals in those three matches. The Panthers defeated Rudder 2-0 in the first match and Crowley 2-1 in the second match before falling to Pflugerville 1-0.
In the third-place match, the Panthers got another goal from Byrd, her seventh of the season. Hoyt and Salazar scored as K-Park defeated West Brook, 4-1.
With those two tournaments behind them, K-Park now begins district play as they face Montgomery on the road Tuesday before hosting Caney Creek Friday night.
