Monitor Staff Reports
CARROLLTON–The history-making playoff run by the Mabank Lady Panther girls soccer team came to an end at the hands of the Wylie Lady Pirates Saturday.
Last year, the Lady Panthers advanced as far as the regional quarterfinals before losing to the Red Oak Lady Hawks.
This season, Mabank again faced Red Oak in the quarterfinals, and got big win to advance to the semifinals.
Against Wylie, the Lady Pirates jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first half.
As the second half began, Mabank found themselves down 3-0 after a quick score early.
Mabank’s offense lit up as Kelci Hill crossed a perfect ball into the six yard box and Savannah Henderson scored her 76th goal of the season on a header to make it 3-1.
Wylie answered quickly, scoring two more goals to take a 5-1 lead, and that was all it took for the Lady Pirates.
“Wyle was a very talented team,” Mabank head coach Matt Lemoine said. “They had exceptional footwork and moved the ball around the field really well. I give them all the credit in the world.”
The Lady Panthers showed what they were made of as they never gave up, and kept struggling till the end.
“My girls played hard and never stopped fighting. It was only the second time all year that we had more than one goal scored on us in a game,” Lemoine commented.
“This has been a season to remember. The girls have overcome a lot to get to where they are.
“They overcame injuries, a coaching change, a hard playoff schedule and kept finding a way to win. They are extremely competitive and hate to lose.
“They made history at Mabank and were the last 3A team in the state playing soccer. I couldn’t be more proud of them,” Lemoince exclaimed.
Mabank ended the season with an impressive 23-3-3 record and were the District 31-4A champions.

Eustace Lady Bulldog shortstop Chelsea Oldham (standing) tries to tag a running Malakoff Lady Tiger Tuesday. The runner was called safe, and the visiting Lady Tigers defeated Eustace 12-0 in five innings.

By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
ATHENS–More than 650 people attended the annual Outdoor Fools Day event at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens April 6.
The event provided many activities for children and adults to learn about the outdoors while having fun in the process.
“It was a very fun and successful day,” TFFC media contact Larry Hodge said.
The annual event is described as having two goals: to let you know what’s out there to enjoy and to teach you how to do it.
Activities such as kayaking, fly-fishing, cooking campfire meals, learning about outdoor animals, cleaning and cooking fish and getting to meet champion tracking dogs were among the activities provided.
People were not only shown how things are done, but given a chance to do them for themselves under the watchful eye of an expert.
In the “Wildlife on the Move” show, presenter Eric “Mr. B” Brittingham showed a variety of animals such as snakes, spiders, cockroaches and hedgehogs.
Several young audiences members had the chance to hold the animals, and everybody had the opportunity to touch and feel a 9-foot boa constrictor.
Regular TFFC activities were also available, including the dive shows and tours. The event was sponsored by several Athens-area businesses, as well as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Friends of the TFFC.
The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is located at 5550 Farm-to-Market 2495, about four miles east of Athens. For more information about the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, call (903) 676-2277 or visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/tffc.