MINERAL WELLS —
By TONY EIERDAM
FORT WORTH – Sometimes, in sports, it’s better to be lucky than good.
Just ask the Mineral Wells Rams soccer team.
Down 2-1 but fighting hard to the end against Fort Worth Southwest Thursday morning at the Brewer tournament, the Rams kept offensive pressure in the Raiders’ zone until finally Southwest cracked.
The Rams had earned a throw in on the left side of the field just past the 18-yard mark, and a Southwest defender headed the ball in the wrong direction – back into his own net.
The goal with six minutes left to play was not the final push for MWHS as the Rams had a pair of scoring chances late.
But Southwest turned back both opportunities and settled for a 2-2 tie. The tie had to be disappointing for the Raiders, who watched a 2-0 lead evaporate in the second half.
Southwest also enjoyed a bit of luck when they scored their first goal on a penalty kick. The infraction was the result of an accidental hand ball by MWHS in the penalty area.
“The kids kept fighting, and we got lucky late in the second half,” Rams head coach Rolando Borjon said. “But we feel they also had a little luck on the accidental hand ball.
“I think our play was a little sloppy overall, but the guys finished and fought hard until the end. Coming back from two goals down is always a good sign.”
The Rams were down 2-0 until Omar Hernandez scored on a header with 13 minutes left to play to cut the Raiders’ lead to 2-1.
The play started on a free kick by Gilbert Castorena. His shot on goal attempt was blocked, but the ball came back to Bryan Flores, whose point-blank shot caromed off the cross bar.
But Hernandez was on the spot and headed the deflection into the back of the net.
Rams’ senior goalkeeper Caleb Bandy kept MWHS in the game by coming out from in front of his net and making a pair of diving saves on the perimeter. Southwest had only one more decent scoring chance later in the half on a corner kick, but Bandy easily turned it away.
Lady Rams 4, Guyer JV 1
Senior forward Sami Stevens scored a pair of goals to lead the Mineral Wells Lady Rams soccer team to a 4-1 win over Denton Guyer junior varsity Thursday morning at the Brewer tournament.
The win raises the Lady Rams’ record to 4-1.
All four MWHS goals were scored in the first half as the Lady Rams had a strong wind at their backs.
However, in the second half Guyer had the wind, but the Lady Rams’ defense, particularly at midfield, was outstanding as Guyer did not have too many scoring chances with the wind at its back.
“The kids played well offensively in the first half, and really moved the ball well,” Lady Rams head coach John Tuggle said. “We had the wind with us, and that helped us out a bit.
“We were less aggressive in the second half with the wind in our face, and Guyer got more physical with us.”
Lady Rams sophomore goalkeeper Rebecca Langley stopped all but one shot in the second half.
Guyer scored from in front of the net early in the second half, but Langley turned back three other good scoring opportunities – including a save from point-blank range – to preserve the win.
“Rebecca did a good job,” Tuggle said. “She was in the right spots at the right times.
“We just got to get her to learn to come out of the goal more at certain times. Her play was a positive.”
Stevens opened the scoring early in the match with freshman Kylie Williams earning the assist.
The Lady Rams extended their lead to 2-0 when Williams found Stevens again, this time from 20 yards out in the middle of the field.
Later in the opening half, veteran Molly Clarke, a senior and four-year starter, was straddling the goal line to the left of the Guyer goalkeeper.
Clarke sent a rocket toward the net, and it deflected off the ‘keeper and into the net as the Lady Rams’ lead grew to 3-0. Senior Miriam Garcia was credited with the assist on Clarke’s goal.
Just before the half ended, senior Flor Turcios sent a crossing pass to the middle and in front of the net where freshman Brittany Smith deposited it in the back of the net as MWHS led 4-0 at the break.
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