Katy Ewton got two quick goals in the early part of the first period to lead the Salado Lady Eagles past the Fredericksburg Battlin’ Billies 3-1 in the Region IV quarterfinal soccer match April 7.

The first came just two minutes into the first period when Ewton took an assist from Jessica Ringstaff and put it past Fredericksburg’s Taylor Kitchens.

About 10 minutes later, Ewton scored when a corner kick bounced off a player, giving her a second shot on goal, which she made good with about 28 minutes left in the first period of play.

Throughout the first period, Salado dominated the Billies, maintaining control of the ball on Fredericksburg’s side.

The Billies had one early opportunity in the first period before Salado scored, but missed the goal, turning the ball over to the Lady Eagles.

After that, it wasn’t until the final two minutes of the period that the Billies were able to maintain possession for long on the Salado side.

A foul against Salado gave the Billies a penalty kick, which the Lady Eagles defended, but Fredericksburg’s Daiy Flores took the deflection and put past Salado’s Sam Isbell.

The Billies threatened to score again when a Olivia Radles was able to break past the Salado defense before Morgan Bird took the ball back for the Lady Eagles and kicked it to the Fredericksburg side of the field.

Salado took 10 shots on goal in the first, as they spent most of the period on the Billies’ side of the field. Kitchens had 8 saves in the first period and 10 in the game before Kinsey Stevens finished out the game at goalkeeper for Fredericksburg.

Salado’s goalkeeper Isbell made 7 saves in the game, most of them in the second period of play.

China Saxton scored the final goal in the game with about 12 minutes left on the clock, taking an assist from Reagan Morreale on the left side as she ran down the middle for the final score of 3-1.

Early in the second, the Eagles defense defended a shot on goal and back-to-back corner kick opportunities as Fredericksburg held the ball on the Salado side at the outset of the period.

But Salado would bounce back from the threats to tie and continue to play ball control and stifling defense in the second period to hold on for the win.

Salado will face Rockport-Fulton on April 10 at 2 p.m. at McAllen High School stadium in McAllen. Rockport-Fulton beat Jones High School.