PHOTO BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Senior midfielder River Hooks prepares to take a shot on goal during the Lady Badgers’ win against Killeen. Due to heavy rains, the Lady Badgers were forced to move their district-opening home match to Killeen.

While the weather relocated the party, it could not dampen the spirits of the Lady Badgers, who celebrated their first district win of the season by shutting out the Lady Kangaroos 2-0.

After Friday morning showers drenched the pitch at Lampasas High School, the Lady Badgers’ junior varsity match was canceled, and the varsity contest was moved to Killeen where the teams could play on an artificial surface with better drainage.

The Lady Badgers looked right at home in the first half, as they tallied both goals with the second score coming in the final minute of the opening half. Senior midfielders River Hooks and Jontell Ritz recorded the goals.

“[It was] a good win, and the team played hard the whole game,” Lampasas head coach Mark Guszak said. “I am hoping that we can use this result to build on.

“When we play smart and hard, we can play with anybody.”

The Lady Badgers (1-1 District 49-4A) will be on the road for a third consecutive match tonight, traveling to Leander Vandergrift for a 7:45 p.m. start. Lampasas will try once again to host their first district match Friday when Lake Travis comes to town.

The Badgers took to the Leo Buckley Stadium’s pitch shortly after the Lady Badgers for a scheduled road contest against Killeen.

The Kangaroos took immediate advantage of winning the coin toss by choosing to play the first half with a strong, cold wind at their back. Killeen created six shots on goal and scored on a double header off a corner kick.

After halftime, the Roos added to their lead when a long shot on goal was deflected by Badger goalkeeper Alex Rinniger. Unfortunately, the deflection ricocheted off the crossbar and into the goal.

“In the second half, [we] generated four shots on goal, but none found the net,” Lampasas head coach Greg Porter said.

The loss drops the Badgers (1-1 district) into a three-way tie for fourth in the District 49-4A race with Lampasas to host Leander Vandergrift tonight at 7:45 p.m.

The junior varsity boys’ match was canceled because of the Lady Badgers’ change in location.