Lake Travis started on the front foot, their speed helping them win balls in midfield and intelligently using the space between Bastrop’s midfielders and defenders to craft passes and shooting chances. They should have scored seven minutes into the game, but a close-range volley off a cross from the right side was kicked over.

Lake Travis also threatened during periods when Bastrop struggled to clear the ball from in front of their goal. When Bastrop would try to pass or clear from deep, the Lady Cavalier players were quicker to the ball and would send it right back into the mixer.

Still, for much of the game Bastrop’s defense bent, but didn’t break. The Lady Cavs’ through balls were shepherded out for goal kicks or cleared by the defense, their long shots blocked by defenders or saved by Bastrop goalkeeper Courtney Felps.

Bastrop’s offense looked most promising just before and after halftime. Kendall Ayers had a shot from 40 yards out sail over the goal; Haley Mendel had a promising cross cleared by a Lady Cav defender. Meghan Morris did well to keep the ball with 28 minutes left in the second half while dribbling through several Lake Travis defenders before passing to Nola Canann, but Canann’s cross skipped too close to goal and was claimed by Lake Travis’ goalkeeper.

The Lady Bears’ hopes of holding out and getting the winner took a blow 10 minutes into the second half when centerback Cheyenne Rodriguez collided with a Lake Travis forward and had to be helped off the field injured. Rodriguez had had a tremendous game up to that point, blocking shots and catching up to attackers as the last defender to thwart Lake Travis’ attacks. Her loss was one Otts thinks Bastrop struggled to recover from.

“The girls depend a lot on her on the back line,” Otts said of Rodriguez. Bastrop responded by moving Mendel, another speedy player, back to sweeper, which shored up the defense but also meant the Lady Bears couldn’t use her as an attacking option.

Lake Travis finally opened the scoring with 13 minutes left in the game, Priyanka Gaur controlling the ball between midfield and defense before turning and firing a high arcing shot that dipped under the crossbar and over Felps’ hand to make it 1-0.

The goal brought a new urgency to Bastrop’s play, and they found new ways to get the ball to forwards Melissa Perry and Rosio Guerrero, but couldn’t capitalize on those chances.

Lake Travis got their second goal moments later, a high bounce and missed clearance by Bastrop’s defense turning the ball in front of goal and right into the path of a Lake Travis forward, who finished from just a couple of yards out to make it 2-0.

“Lake Travis has a very good team,” Otts said. “We gave the best effort we could, which is all we could ask.”

The Lady Bears got off to something of a slow start, their passes missing their marks, their opponents getting some chances on poor clearances or long passes.

Unfortunately for Hutto, it didn’t last.

Bastrop scored its first goal halfway through the first half, then put four more in over the next hour in a dominating performance that saw them beat Hutto 5-0 to advance to the area round of the playoffs.

“I knew as soon as we found the net we’d keep it going,” said Bastrop head coach Leslie Otts.

The Lady Bears had a few shots in the game’s opening minutes, including one from Haley Mendel following a run through the Lady Hippo defense that anticipated a goal she would score some 25 minutes later. Hutto’s forwards, meanwhile, tried to pressure Bastrop’s defenders anytime they got the ball, but the Lady Bears generally did well to pass themselves out of trouble. Hutto had one hard shot in the opening minutes, a volley saved easily by Bastrop’s Courtney Felps.

It wasn’t until Megan Pacheco saved a ball from going out over the endline and passed across the face of the goal for Nola Canann that Bastrop got on the board.

As Otts said, the Lady Bears looked better after the goal. They added another with just under four minutes remaining in the half, Mendel picking up the ball on the left side just inside the Hutto half of the field and using her speed to dribble through their entire half, coming back towards the center before hitting a hard shot past the Hutto keeper.

The Lady Bears weren’t done for the half though. Meghan Morris scored a third with five seconds left in the half, taking the ball off a Hutto defender in their box before cutting back and shooting to put them up 3-0.

The story was much the same in the second half. Hutto had an early chance, a header from a free kick, go over the bar, but from then on out it was all Bastrop.

Mendel got her second goal on an unstoppable shot to the upper-right corner from 25 yards out early in the half.

Shortly after, Kendall Ayers found Melissa Perry with a pair of crosses, but her shots were either just wide or deflected out by a Hutto defender. The pair finally connected for a goal the third time, a long Ayers cross deflecting off a Hutto player’s head to Perry. She did well to keep the ball under pressure before turning and shooting into the roof of the net from close range, making the score 5-0.

“Hutto had an aggressive and fast team,” Otts said afterwards. “It was a good game.”

The Lady Bears play Lake Travis tonight, Monday April 2, at House Park in Austin at 7:30 p.m.

Smithville 67, Rockdael 49
Smithville    16    11    24    16    -    67
Rockdale     11     16     12     10     -    49
Smithville (19-10, 7-3): Cerean Adkins 7, Cody Hlavaty 4, Khalil McCathern 8, Logan Kubicek 2, Peter Marek 14, Davion Gentry 2, Oscar Kenebrew 12, Joe Carnk 18
Rockdale (20-10, 7-3): Mitchell 12, Garza 10, Skubal 9, Ford 3, Dean 5, David 6, Loth 4

Hutto 77, Cedar Creek 46
Hutto    23    12    24    18    -    77
Cedar Creek    5    18    10    13    -    46
Hutto (16-16, 7-9): Bellinger 23, Monyer 16, Studdard 2, Orso 15, Henry 2, Gleghorn 6, Overton 7, Rogers 2, Shamba 2
Cedar Creek (5-30, 0-16): Jose Vasquez 6, Jose Cantu 3, Michael Vallejo 3, Josh Castor 3, Ronnie Hattlet 3, Kyle Spencer 3, Zach Daniel 17

SOFTBALL
Bastrop 11, Salado 8
Salado    040    100    3    -    8    10    0
Bastrop    101    102    6    -    11    11    4
WP: Lillian Raemsch
Highlights: B: Gisella Paranich 2 hits, Tori Spakes 1 hit, Rachel West 1 hit, Lillian Raemsch 2 hits, 1 2B, Maddie Parker 3 hits, Emily Tarango 2 hits, 1 3B
Records: Bastrop 1-0

Elgin 13, Belton 0
Elgin    000    500    8    -    13    14    1
Belton    000    000    0    -    0    3    2
WP: Jenna Wing (1-0)
LP: Alex
Highlights: E: Shelbi Swenson 2 RBIs, Adrianna Hernandez 2-4, RBI
Record: Elgin 1-0

BOYS SOCCER
Cedar Creek 4, Giddings 0
Cedar Creek    3    1    -    4
Giddings    0    0    -    0
Goals: Vicente Salazar (2), Kenny Wells, Ricky Sanchez
Assists: Jose Ortiz (2), Salazar, Wells

GIRLS SOCCER
Giddings 3, Cedar Creek 0
Giddings    2    1    -    3
Cedar Creek    0    0    -    0
Goals: none
Assists: none

Bastrop’s win over Willis was the Lady Bears’ sixth straight as the Lady Bears defeated Sealy Friday night by a score of 5-1.

Cedar Creek remained winless, losing to Willis Friday and Sealy Saturday in the seventh place consolation game.

Elgin finished third in the tournament, defeating Waco 3-1 Friday in the final pool game with goals coming from Jessica Ortiz, Riley Felder and Jessica Larson.

Elgin lost to Willis in the semifinals Saturday and defeated Del Valle in the third place game.

Bastrop’s Haley Mendel was named the tournament MVP.

Since defeating Kerrville Tivy Tuesday, which was Bastrop’s first win of the seasion, the Lady Bears have outscored opponents 10-1 in their last three games.

Friday morning, Bastrop’s girls soccer team kept rival Elgin from avenging its bi-district playoff loss to the Lady Bears a year ago.

Bastrop defeated the Lady Cats 3-0 after a slow first half that ended in a 0-0 tie.

Just like in Tuesday’s win, the Lady Bears picked up the pace and scored three goals in the second half with Elgin, coming from Kendall Ayers, Melissa Perry and Haley Mendel.

Both teams had their chances to score as posession went back and forth throughout much of the first half.

The Lady Bears however picked up their offense in the second half, frustrating Elgin’s defense.

Bastrop played Sealy Friday night to finish pool play. With a win against the Lady Tigers, the Lady Bears will play in the championship today at 3 p.m. at Cedar Creek High School.

Bastrop plays its final non-district game Tuesday against Cedar Ridge.

The Bastrop Lady Bears continued their winning ways Thursday by defeating Waco 4-0 to open the Colorado River Cup at BISD Memorial Stadium.

Haley Mendel put in Bastrop’s first two goals of the game, followed by a pair of goals from Kendall Ayers to cap off the night.

The win was the Lady Bears’ first shutout of the season.

Bastrop’s Melissa Perry (7) wins possession against Elgin’s Taylor McDonald Friday morning in a soccer game at BISD Memorial Stadium. (Michael Adams/ Bastrop Advertiser)

While the 3-1 loss to Del Valle at Cedar Creek High School was the Lady Eagles’ sixth of the season, first year head coach Matt Watt said he wasn’t discouraged.

“We have seen a tremendous improvement since the first game with Elgin,” Watt said. “These losses are obviously tough, but they will pay off in the long term.

“That’s our goal and one thing I preach, we are not looking at right now, but looking long term.”

The Lady Eagles broke up a 0-0 tie in the second half when Melissa Hernandez scored Cedar Creek’s first goal of the Colorado River Cup, and the Lady Eagles’ second of the season, with 26 minutes left in the game.

But Del Valle struck back, and then again, and then again.

The Lady Cardinals quickly answered Hernandez’s goal to tie the game with 19:53 left in the game.

Del Valle struck again five minutes later and then added a third goal two minutes later to cap off the 3-1 win.

The loss came after a 2-0 loss to Manor Thursday night to open the tournament, which is hosted by Bastrop and Cedar Creek.

The Lady Eagles (0-6-1) have had their share of struggles early this season.

Cedar Creek lost to Hutto Tuesday 7-0 and suffered an 11-0 defeat at the hands of Lamar Consolidated at the Brenham tournament last week.

Watt calls it the learning curve because his team will face teams with senior leadership all season.

“We still miss that senior leadership, which gives us an extra challenge starting a varsity program,” Watt said. “But the girls all know the challenge ahead of them. If we learn how to do things the right way now, it’s only going to help us build our program for the future.”

Cedar Creek has two games left in the Colorado River Cup, playing Willis Friday night and a consolation game Saturday morning.

The Lady Eagles will play their final non-district game Tuesday at home against Del Valle and will start district play on Jan. 31 at Lockhart.

One thing Watt said he has seen in every game is that his team doesn’t quit.

“We showed great effort against a team that finished second in their district last year,” Watt posted to his blog after Cedar Creek’s loss to Manor.

Cedar Creek’s Melissa Hernandez (10) gets past a Del Valle defender Friday morning during a Colorado River Cup game at Cedar Creek High School. (Michael Adams/ Bastrop Advertiser)

Bastrop 60, Bryan-Rudder 55
Bastrop    8    15    20    17    -    60
Rudder    13    9    14    19    -    55
Bastrop (17-13, 5-4): Malik Matthews 6, Shawn Lemon 13, Chris Young 5, Dontray Kinsey 3, Isaiah Washington 5, Kaliem Evans 3, John Thorne 18, Cameron Williams 7
Rudder (16-10, 5-4): Will Martin 19, A’Shanian Smith 11, Demarshon Wilson 11, Jonas Suber 5, Justin Johnson 4, Shivon Wesley 3, Tavion Wilson 2

Manor 70, Elgin 43
Elgin    8    9    15    11    -    43
Manor    16    13    18    23    -    70
Elgin (21-3, 8-1): Trey Nash 13 Troy Nash 9, Tracy Haywood 3, Da’Trean Simmons 12, Te’Rel Simmons 4, Marquis Wilson 2
Manor (12-7, 7-2): Carlock 4 McQueen 10 Mack 19 Ellis 6 T. Johnson 7 Hargis 14 Jones 7 C. Johnson 3

Navasota 64, Smithville 53
Navasota    11    14    24    15    -    64
Smithville    7    18    19    9    -    53
Smithville (13-8, 1-1): Oscar Kenebrew 13, Cody Hlvaty 11, Coltyn Brown 11, Peter Merek 3, Davion Gentry 2, Joe Crank 12.
Navasota (13-9, 2-0): Collins 14, Baker 9, Frazier 5, Creeks 11, McGinty 10, Lowery 8, Sauls 1, Day 3, Lamarquis 3.

Hendrickson 89, Cedar Creek 64
Cedar Creek    22    9    13    20    -    64
Hendrickson    16    28    20    25    -    89
Cedar Creek (5-23, 0-9): Zach Daniel 28, Kyle Spencer 8, Ronnie Hatlett 2, Michael Vallejo 3, Jose Cantu 6, Jose Vasquez 7, Marcus Perez 6, Joel Olivares  4
Hendrickson

DISTRICT 16-4A SSTANDINGS
OVERALL DISTRICT
W    L    W    L     PCT    GB
Elgin    21    3    8    1    0.875    -
Manor    12    7    7    2    0.632    1
Bastrop    17    13    5    4    0.567    3
Bryan-Rudder    16    10    5    4    0.615    3
Connally    13    13    5    4    0.500    3
Hutto    13    11    4    4    0.542    3.5
Cedar Ridge    10    12    3    6    0.455    5
Hendrickson    6    14    2    7    0.300    6
Cedar Creek    5    23    0    9    0.179    8

District 23-3A STANDINGS
OVERALL DISTRICT
W    L    W    L    PCT    GB
Navasota    13    9    2    0    0.591    -
Rockdale    15    7    2    0    0.682    -
Smithville    13    8    1    1    0.619    1
La Grange    9    9    1    1    0.500    1
Giddings    8    9    0    2    0.471    2
Caldwell    8    7    0    2    0.533    2

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Tuesday’s games

Bryan Rudder 68, Bastrop 29
Rudder    19    15    17    17    -    68
Bastrop    6    9    11    3    -    29
Bastrop (2-19, 1-10): Magen Cavazos 10, Taylor Seitz 9, Addison Semer 5, Roneasha Wilson 4, Dezi Litton 1
Rudder (26-5, 10-1): Amerson 17, Cole 14, Dunn 14, McGee 8, James 6, Williams 6, Sardle 3

Navasota 61, Smithville 34
Smithville    6    5    14    9    -    34
Navasota    12    17    16    16    -    61
Smithville (7-19, 1-3): Maygan Washington 10, Valerie Harmon 9, Taryn Leiferman 5, Julia Kubicek 4, Trina Deyo 3, Macy Wilhelm 2, Madison Hannusch 1

District 16-4A Standings
OVERALL DISTRICT
W    L    W    L     PCT    GB
Bryan-Rudder    20    4    10    1    0.833    -
Cedar Ridge    23    7    9    1    0.767    0.5
Connally    18    12    8    3    0.600    2
Hutto    13    13    7    3    0.500    2.5
Hendrickson    14    12    7    4    0.538    3
Elgin    7    13    4    7    0.350    6
Manor    2    17    3    8    0.105    7
Bastrop    2    19    1    10    0.095    9
Cedar Creek    3    19    0    10    0.136    9.5

District 23-3A Standings
OVERALL DISTRICT
W    L    W    L    PCT    GB
Giddings    18    5    4    0    0.783    -
Navasota    10    2    4    0    0.833    -
La Grange    5    8    2    2    0.385    2
Smithville    7    19    1    3    0.269    3
Rockdale    15    9    1    3    0.625    3
Caldwell    1    5    0    4    0.167    4

GIRLS SOCCER
Friday’s games
Del Valle 3, Cedar Creek 1
Del Valle    0    3    -    3
Cedar Creek (0-6-1)    0    1    -    1
Goals: Melissa Hernandez

Bastrop 3, Elgin 0
Bastrop (3-3-1)    0    3    -    3
Elgin    0    0    -    0
Goals: Kendall Ayers, Melissa Perry, Haley Mendel
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Bastrop 4, Waco 0
Bastrop (2-3-1)    0    0    -    4
Waco    0    0    -    0
Goals: Kendall Ayers (2), Haley Mendel (2)

Manor 2, CEDar Creek 0
Manor    1    1    -    2
Cedar Creek (0-5-1)    0    0    -    0
Goals; none

Tuesday’s games
Bastrop 3, Kerrville Tivy 1
Bastrop (1-2-1)    1    2    -    3
Tivy    1    0    -    1
Goals: Haley Mendel, Melissa Perry, Rocio Guerrero
Assists: Kendall Ayers (2)

Hutto 7, Cedar Creek 0
Hutto    4    3    -    7
Cedar Creek (0-4-1)    0    0    -    0
Goals: none

Elgin 1, Bryan Rudder 1
Elgin (1-2-1)    1    0    -    1
Bryan-Rudder    1    0    -    1
Goals: none reported

BOYS SOCCER
Thursday’s game
Cedar Creek 2, Scarborough 1
Cedar Creek (1-3)    2    0    -    2
Scarborough    0    1    -    1
Goals: Michael Mendoza, Joel Oliviares

Tuesday’s GAMES
Bastrop 3, Elgin 0
Bastrop (3-1-1)    2    1    -    3
Elgin    0    0    -    0
Goals: Yeison Meza (2), Wyatt Rosenauer
Assists: Hart McMillan

Jan. 13
Laredo Martin 6, Cedar Creek 0
Martin    3    3    -    6
Cedar Creek (0-3)    0    0    -    0
Goals: none

Jan. 12
Anderson 2, Cedar Creek 0
Cedar Creek (0-1)    0    0    -    0
Anderson    1    1    -    1
Goals: none

Lanier 7, Cedar Creek 4
Cedar Creek (0-2)    1    3    -    4
Lanier    2    5    -    7
Goals: Jose Ortiz, Vicente Salazar

It was a nice turn of events for Bastrop, which went 0-2-1 over the weekend at the New Braunfels Tournament while missing several key players, according to first-year head coach Leslie Otts.

“It feels really good after the tough weekend we had,” Otts said. “We needed a win to get our confidence back.”

Haley Mendel broke up a deadlock in the 14th minute of the game on an unassisted goal to give the Lady Bears (1-2-1) a 1-0 lead.

Kerrville Tivy took very little time to tie the game back up, scoring in the 21st minute of the game and the score would stay that way through halftime.

Bastrop had its share of chances late in the first half, with four unsuccessful shots on goal in the final two minutes.

Melissa Perry broke up the tie in the 49th minute of the game early in the second half when she scored on an assist from Kendall Ayers.

Ayers played a part in Bastrop’s third goal of the game when her shot ricochet off the cross bar and in front of the feet of Rocio Guerrero, who put it in the back of the net for the final goal of the game.

Tivy had very few chances in the second half, but Bastrop could have blew the game wide open, missing four shots on goal in the final 10 minutes of the half.

Most of them were due to the play of Tivy’s goalkeeper who had brilliant saves on all four.

Bastrop 3, Kerrville Tivy 1
Bastrop (1-2-1)    1    2    -    3
Tivy    1    0    -    1
Goals: Haley Mendel, Melissa Perry, Rocio Guerrero
Assists: Kendall Ayers (2)

Bastrop’s Emily Gordon gets ready to make a pass Tuesday during the Lady Bears home opener at BISD Memorial Stadium against Kerrville Tivy. Bastrop won the game 3-1 for their first win of the season. (Michael Adams/ The Bastrop Advertiser)

In Cedar Creek’s pool, the Lady Eagles will match up with Manor, Del Valle and Willis and all games will be played at Cedar Creek High School.

The Lady Eagles will play Manor in their opener today at 7 p.m. In the prelude, Del Valle will take on Willis at 5 p.m.

Bastrop is paired with Waco, Elgin and Sealy and will play all games at BISD Memorial Stadium.

The Lady Bears will play their opener at 7 p.m. today against Waco. Elgin and Sealy will play at 5 p.m.

A rematch from last year’s bi-district playoff between Elgin and Bastrop is scheduled for 8 a.m. Friday.

The championship game will be played at 3 p.m. Saturday at Cedar Creek High School.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Today
At Cedar Creek
Del Valle vs. Willis, 5 p.m.
Cedar Creek vs. Manor, 7 p.m.

At BISD Memorial Stadium
Elgin vs. Sealy, 5 p.m.
Bastrop vs. Waco, 7 p.m.

Friday
At Cedar Creek
Del Valle vs. Cedar Creek, 8 a.m.
Willis vs. Manor, 10 a.m.
Manor vs. Del Valle, 3 p.m.
Cedar Creek vs. Willis, 5 p.m.

At BISD Memorial Stadium
Bastrop vs. Elgin, 8 a.m.
Sealy vs. Waco, 10 a.m.
Elgin vs. Waco, 3 p.m.
Bastrop vs. Sealy, 5 p.m.

SATURDAY
At BISD Memorial Stadium
Bastrop pool 1 vs. Cedar Creek pool 2, 9 a.m.
Bastrop pool 4 vs. Cedar Creek pool 4, 11 a.m.
Third place game, 1 p.m.

At Cedar Creek High School
Cedar Creek pool 1 vs. Bastrop pool 2, 9 a.m.
Cedar Creek pool 3 vs. Bastrop pool 3, 11 a.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.

Otts was an assistant coach for the team in 2011 as the Lady Bears marched three rounds deep into the playoffs, which was the furthest Bastrop has made it in the postseason since 2004.

Despite the graduations of the 2011 All-Bastrop County Player of the Year Heather Greene, along with goalkeeper Stephanie Flores and defenders Stacy Smith, Rebekah Spalding and Chandler Robertson, the Lady Bears will return the core of its offense that scored 115 goals in 2011.

Bastrop dominated District 49-4A last year, posting a 13-0-1 record as they walked to the district title.

While Bastrop outscored its district opponents, scoring 77 goals in district play, it was the Lady Bears’ defense of Smith, Robertson, Spalding and Flores that stood out by allowing just four goals in 14 games.

So why do the expectations stay high with the Lady Bears after losing that much defense?

It’s simple really.

Of the 115 goals scored by Bastrop in 2011, 85 of them came from players returning on the 2012 squad.

That includes the team’s leading scorer Haley Mendel (27 goals) and sophomores Cailtyn Fiebrich, Megan Pacheco, Melissa Perry, Cheyenne Rodriguez and Lynzee Gillespe, who combined for 29.
The other returning leading scorer is junior Kendall Ayers, who had 18 for the season.

Highlighting Bastrop’s schedule this year are matches with Hays on Feb. 7 in Buda and March 2 in Bastrop.

The Lady Rebels will likely be the only obstacle for Bastrop repeating as district champions.

Also on the schedule in 2012 is the Colorado River Cup on Jan. 19-21, which will be co-hosted by Cedar Creek.

Bastrop kicks off the 2012 season Monday at Victoria East and will play its first home game on Jan. 17 against Kerrville.