Hernandez leads Lady Lions to soccer win
February 14, 2009

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE -- Julie Hernandez scored her first career hat trick to carry the Greenville Lady Lions to a 3-1 soccer victory over Paris on Friday night at T.A. “Cotton” Ford Stadium.

Hernandez scored once in the first half and twice during the final 26 1/2 minutes to help the Lady Lions rally from a 1-0 deficit.

Greenville, now 6-5-1 for the season, stayed undefeated in District 20-4A play at 2-0. The Lady Lions opened district play on Monday with a 4-0 victory over Sulphur Springs.

Paris, which beat crosstown rival North Lamar 1-0, dropped to 1-1 in district play and is 5-9-1 overall.

Raci Lancaster put Paris on the scoreboard first when she got to a deflected shot and booted it in from 15 yards with 15:43 left in the first half.

Paris defender Christy McKinney saved a goal later in the first half on a shot by Hernandez that eluded the Paris goalkeeper.

Greenville was awarded a penalty kick and Hernandez chested in the ball off the corner from Katelynn Twilley to tie the game at 1-1 with 6:53 left before the half.

Greenville goalkeeper Lupe Alvarez and the Paris keeper both made some key stops before the half ended with the two teams still tied.

Hernandez scored the game-winner with 26:21 left off a cross from Maci Bradford.

Hernandez added an insurance goal with 12:48 when she found an empty net on a shot from about 20 yards.

Paris wound up with a 9-6 edge in shots on goal as Alvarez finished with eight saves.

“Other than that (the one goal) she had an awesome game,” Greenville coach Ron Beck said of Alvarez. “Julie had an awesome game.”

The two teams battled to a 1-1 tie in the junior varsity match.

Meg Lawson scored Greenville’s goal.