Lady Tiger Soccer wins bi-district crown with 1-0 win over Kaufman

March 27, 2025

By Tony Adams

The Belton Journal

The Belton Lady Tiger Soccer team started their playoff quest on Thursday as they took on the Kaufman Lions at Blackcat Stadium in Mexia.

Ava Itz’s rocket shot from 25 yards out in the game’s 27th minute was knocked down by Kaufman goalkeeper Camila Castellanos but leaked across the goal line to provide the Tigers the lone goal they needed for a 1-0 win.

Although it was a Class 5A-2 Region 2 playoff win and bi-district championship, it was not the best game the Tigers played.

The Tigers spent nearly 30 minutes of the first half on the offensive side of the field, as Itz, Tori Lucksinger, Bella Stermer, Karington Kopriva, Destiny Schutz, and Kiersten Rowland were peppering the Kaufman had a variety of shots toward that narrowly missed goal or were steered aside by Castellanos.

Continuing to press forward, Belton found the scoreboard with 12:58 to go in the first half when Itz uncorked a shot through traffic. Castellanos made the initial save, but the momentum of the shot caused a rebound that she could not control, and the ball rolled across the line for the goal that put the Tigers up, 1-0.

Belton was relentless throughout the remainder of the first half, as they kept the pressure on in their offensive zone.

Kaufman became desperate late in the first half and forced a shot on goal, which was turned aside by Elizabeth Marschall in the goal box with 4:45 left in the first half.

The Tigers continue to pressure the Lions in the second, with Rowland, Itz, and Lucksinger hammering shots at the Kaufman goal, and getting outstanding defense from Marissa Christenson and Penelope Vizcarra, dispossessing Lions who attempted break through the backline.

The Lions had an opportunity to tie the game with seven minutes to play, as they got into the goal bo x and chipped a shot at Marschall. She expertly scooped the ball and cleared the goal box.

The Tigers had an insurance goal opportunity late on a corner kick with 2:50 remaining. Itz’s kick did not have enough bend and hit the nearside post and went out of bounds for a Kaufman goal kick.

“Overall, we are moving on,” Bersoza said. “I don’t want to be too critical because they will be critical of themselves, but that was not good enough. We played much better than we did today.”

Belton will take on Mesquite Poteet in the area round Tuesday at Corsicana.