“Killed two birds with one stone” is what Katy girls soccer fans might say after Tuesday’s 2-1 double-overtime win against Cinco Ranch in a 5A regional quarterfinal at Seven Lakes.

The Tigers defeated Cinco Ranch, a feat never achieved in the schools’ history. By doing so, Katy reached the regional semifinals.

At game's end, Katy rushed the field and coach Dianne Loftin fell to her knees.

“This is a big, big deal,” Loftin said. “This is the first time we’ve ever beaten them. We’ve tied them quite a few times but never beat them, so this is a big, big deal.”

With two good soccer teams on the playing field, the crowd was surely guaranteed a good game.

Cinco Ranch scored midway through the first half on a line drive kick that hovered inches off the ground. The Cougars worked the ball toward Katy’s goal with great passes. After taking a shot that was blocked, Missy Wentz saw an opening and scored the leading goal.

Almost immediately following Cinco Ranch’s goal, the Tigers tied it up when freshman Kayla Walker maneuvered around a defender and placed the ball in the right corner of Cinco Ranch’s net.

“We’re glad she’s here,” was the only thing Loftin could say about her freshman forward. And that was all that needed to be said.

After regulation ended and no score came in the first overtime, both teams were looking for that one opportunity.

Erica De La Fuente found it and took advantage of it as she belly-bumped the ball into Cinco Ranch’s net for the lead and the eventual win.

“Coach has always told us to be there and never give up,” De La Fuente said.

“She’s a senior captain,” Loftin said about De La Fuente. “She’s come up huge. She’s a great player and has had a great season.”

The game-winning play began with a foul on Cinco Ranch. Maddie McKay kicked a high kick right into the hands of the Cougars’ goalie. The ball slipped out of her hands and De La Fuente was in the right spot at the right time to use her stomach to score.

“We talked about the fact that the ground was wet and slippery and that the keepers hand were going to slippery on the ball and just to follow everything,” said Loftin. “And that’s what they did and we got fortunate.”

“It’s a great feeling,” De La Fuente said. “I can’t really describe it. We set goals at the beginning of this year and one of them was to beat Cinco. We couldn’t do it during district, but luckily we got another opportunity.”

Katy will play Clear Lake in a regional semifinal Friday at Deer Park's Abshier Stadium.

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