Boys’ soccer keeps playoff hopes alive
In a crucial game for the Wimberley boys’ soccer team, the Texans scored nine minutes into the away game against Canyon Lake last Friday then put on a show of solid defense to win 1-0. The win assured the Texans a playoff game in upcoming bi-district crossover competition. But, first, they will host Bandera on Friday, March 22 in the last regular season game that also celebrates Senior Night.
In the ninth minute of the Canyon Lake game, Alan Hernandez passed to Jack Cole who fed it back to Hernandez who one-timed it past the Canyon goal keeper. 1-0 Texans!
Texan Coach Ramez Antoun then shifted the Texans into a prevent formation which allowed the defensive play of Mason O’Connor, Nick Kohls, Brian Maguire, Edgar Jimenez, Grant Cole and Remy Wade to make the one goal stand up for the win. “Brenden Shott, our keeper, made eight amazing saves that kept us in this game,” his coach said after the final whistle.
The Texans now stand in fourth place in the district which would mean they play the number one team from the other half of the district. That team is a very powerful Liberty Hill team with a record of 14-2-3. “We’re hoping for a little help from other teams to get into third place,” Coach Antoun explained. “And we still need to beat Bandera in our last regular season game.”
“Then, we need Canyon Lake to lose two of their last three games for us to get into third place and play a lesser team to avoid playing that top team. Regardless of what happens, we’ve made the cross-over part of the season. But, we want to avoid that district champion coming from the other side. The scenario allows us to go forward by beating Bandera. We were in fourth place last Tuesday and we’re still in fourth. Only now we have a steeper hill to climb!”
“Edgar Jimenez played his best game last night against Canyon Lake. He gave us a lot of good minutes and played strong. Ian Crain also gave us strong minutes. I’ve not mentioned these two defenders much before but now those two really have stepped up.”
Against Boerne on March 5, the Texans conceded four goals in the first half then shut them out in the second half. “I’d say that’s a true Jekyl and Hyde performance,” Antoun said. “Our offense, which had been consistent throughout the year, suddenly ground to a halt a couple of weeks ago. Beating Canyon Lake gave us a chance for third place and to avoid the top team from the other side in the cross-over play. Right now that’s Liberty Hill and they are really good.”
“We’re in the cross-over part of the season regardless of what happens. But, we’re trying to avoid that district champion coming from the other side---whoever it might be. A worst scenario still allows us to go forward by beating Bandera. We were in fourth place before last Tuesday and we’re still in fourth, but we’re still playing!“