TEXAN ROUND UP

Sports

Wimberley Varsity Girls Soccer vs. Boerne

Greyhounds

Boerne’s speed and athleticism proved the difference-maker for the Boerne girls’ soccer team as they defeated the Wimberley Texans 5-1 on Friday, February 15. In the second game of the District 4A playoffs, Boerne’s senior forward Mary Kate Snelling scored twice in the first half and twice in the second to overpower the Texans. The lone Wimberley goal came late in the second half off the foot of senior co-captain Avery Biggers from a pass by Anna Olmedo.

Very quick and strong, Snelling owns a shot that is tough to stop. In the first half, Boerne held a slight edge in possession but the game stayed evenly matched. Knowing Boerne possessed the stronger attack. Wimberley adopted a defensive strategy to match Boerne’s high-powered offense. But, step by step, eventually Boerne’s use of long balls proved the Lady Texans’ undoing. Speed and perfect finishing gave Boerne three goals in the span of a few minutes late in the first half then two more early in the second.

Casey Crawford, Wimberley’s junior goalkeeper, kept the Lady Texans in the game during the first half with key saves as the Texan defense fought to contain the Lady Greyhounds. Wimberley’s lone goal came from Avery Biggers, senior right midfielder, who received an Anna Olmedo pass on the right flank late in the game. Biggers beat one defender then sent a soaring shot over the goalkeeper’s outstretched hands into the back of the Boerne net to give Wimberley some consolation after a tough match.

“We gave everything we had tonight!” co-captain Avery Biggers said after the game. “Boerne is a very solid team this year but hopefully we can learn from tonight and do better the next round.”

Texan boys lose to

Boerne and get ready for Battle of the Devil’s

Backbone

In a game originally scheduled to be played at Wimberley, the Texans lost to Boerne 1-0 on their field during Distirct 4A play. That one goal came on a defensive lapse late in the game as four Texan defenders surrounded the Boerne striker.

In the crowd of players, the Boerne player somehow managed to slide the ball past goalkeeper Brenden Shott for what became the winning goal. Up to that point, Shott had kept the Texans in the game with spectacular saves, but the missed communication with the defenders cost the goal.

“Boerne was a very physical team,” Wimberley coach Antoun related. “Eventually it could have gotten out of hand, so I talked with the referees who warned both teams about rough play. Play settled down some but it still was a rough game and a tough one to lose.”

Wimberley will host their second Division 4A game on Tuesday, January 19 against Canyon Lake. Canyon Lake comes into that game with a 9-3-2 season record and ready to battle for the title of “Boss of the Devil’s Backbone.”

“We’re still missing some of our starters,” Coach Ramez Antoun reports. “Brian Macquire is still injured. We’ll also be without Ramsey Frank, our center back defender. Canyon Lake has some speed and they like to defend strong then counter and they’re another physical team.”

The Texans then go on the road again on Friday, February 26, when they trek to Bandera for another district 4A playoff game. After this round of district play, four teams will advance to regional competition.

Brad Biggers contributed to this report