Byron Nelson   -   Burkburnett

  7 : 1

Nadja und die Lady Bobcats gewinnen auch die zweite Partie und erreichen damit die Runde der letzten 32 Mannschaften

Lady Bobcats heating up in playoffs

By Kevin Lonnquist

While Byron Nelson girls soccer coach Phillip Salyer preaches a balanced offensive lineup, he also won’t stand in the way if somebody develops the hot hand.
Well, this is soccer, so it’s the hot foot.
Darla Kaye Hyde has jumped out to a quick start in the first two playoff rounds. Nelson has won its two games against Azle and Burkburnett by a combined score of 12-1. Hyde has scored three of them. Byron Nelson plays District 4-5A Lake Dallas in the Class 4A Region I sectional round at 6 p.m. Thursday at Denton High School.
When one of these players like Hyde picks it up, it creates a lot of problems for opponents against the Lady Bobcats (24-2-1). Coaches know they if they try to key on someone like Hyde, it creates opportunities for Marchelle Davis, Lynnsey Brim and Madison Hall.
"She’s been a phenomenal player for us," Salyer said. "She’s been in this program for four years and has gotten better every year for us. She was our leading scorer and our MVP her sophomore year.
"But when Lynnsey and Marchelle got here, it really changed a lot of things for us. Now other people have to run off and cover those two. That makes Darla even more dangerous."
Without question, Byron Nelson was the superior team in each game. But Salyer likes to see this offense pick it up in the postseason. Maybe these games took on more of an exhibition feel. Once the Lady Bobcats jumped out to a quick start, Azle and Burkburnett retreated. Regardless of interpretation, this offense will need to continue to perform at a high level the deeper this team advances. The competition will be tougher. Hyde and Davis lead the team with 16 goals. Hall has scored 15.
"It’s been nice to see some girls finish," Salyer said. "We’ve been in a stretch where they have scored some great goals. They’ve capitalized."
Seems like old times
Thursday’s game marks the third meeting between Lake Dallas and Byron Nelson. Lake Dallas reached the sectional round with wins over Aledo and Wichita Falls. Lake Dallas has not allowed a goal thus far.
However, the Lady Bobcats won both meetings by scores of 2-0 and 3-0. In each contest, Hyde scored. Given the start she is off to in the postseason, that seems to be good news for the Lady Bobcats and not-so-good news for the Lady Falcons. Nelson will be the decided favorite in this game.
There is the theory that beating one team three times in a season is really difficult. Sometimes it is. But when it comes to one team having the overall talent edge, it doesn’t matter. Although the Burkburnett game was not competitive, Salyer liked that it was played in a neutral location – Mineral Wells – so his group would be used to it and find a way to summon its own energy.
The winner advances to the Region I quarterfinals and will meet the winner of Fort Worth Arlington Heights-Cleburne.
Briefly…
Salyer reported no injuries for his squad and said that he would go through normal preparation for Lake Dallas like he would for any other match.