Kilgore takes down Wilmer-Hutchins, advances to regional final

Published 1:48 pm Friday, April 5, 2024

Kilgore got two second-half goals from freshman Enrique Salazar, and Bulldog goalkeeper Chris Martinez was able to save all three of the Eagles’ second-half attempts on goal as Kilgore was able to take a 2-0 victory in the Class 4A Region II semifinals on Friday afternoon at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium.

“I just preached to them we’ve got to find a way to get a goal,” Kilgore head boys soccer coach Hector Peralez Jr. “We had plenty of opportunities. We just had to keep our composure and just find a way to put them in. The chances were there, we just had to remain composed and just put it away.

Wilmer-Hutchins put pressure on Kilgore multiple times in the first 13 minutes of the second half, but to no avail. Salazar’s first goal came with 24:21 on the clock, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.

Kilgore looked to add to its lead in the final 13 minutes when Leo Yzaguirre sent a shot to the goal that was saved by Wilmer-Hutchins goalkeeper Fermin Pantoja. Diego Rojas put the ball into the net on the rebound, but the officials called the goal off with 12:20 to play. Exactly 33 seconds later, Salazar was in the right place at the right time and put the ball into the back of the net for the 2-0 advantage.

“It was huge,” Peralez said. “I knew if we kept knocking on the door, we were going to get that goal we wanted. We just had to keep knocking, playing our game and keep composed.”

Salazar, who delivered a goal in the 3-0 bi-district win over Hudson, added two in Friday’s regional semifinal victory.

“It feels good,” Salazar said. “I am very proud of my team. I couldn’t do it without them. I got a little nervous, but we practice those shots, so it was pretty easy.”

“He’s a hard worker,” Peralez said. “I get overwhelmed talking about him because he’s such a hard worker. Every day, he gives 100 percent. This freshman class is special; they’re all special classes to me. They’re all hard workers. It’s nice to see their hard work pay off.”

Pantoja delivered multiple 60-yard free kicks for the Eagles (19-6) in the second half, but it didn’t amount to any goals.

Esteban Quezada was the one taking the free kicks in the first half, and he forced Martinez to make multiple saves. Kilgore put three shots on goal in the first half, including one with 1:59 remaining, and Pantoja was able to keep the game scoreless at the break.

Kilgore (23-2-2) will face Frisco Panther Creek (18-5-3) in the regional final at 11 a.m. Saturday in Tyler.

Kilgore and Palestine have met in the previous two postseasons with the Bulldogs eliminating the Wildcats in 2022, and Palestine eliminating Kilgore last season.