Marble Falls boys soccer beats Wimberley
CAPTION: Wimberley did everything it could to keep the contest against the Marble Falls Mustangs close, especially packing in the box to eliminate easy paths to the goal. Photo by Shaunna Marcum/ShaunnaLisa Photograhy
The Marble Falls High School boys soccer team defeated Wimberley 4-1 Feb. 28 in District 26-4A play to remain in third place.
But most importantly, the win allows the Mustangs (11-5-2, 4-1-1) to control their own destiny as they prepare for what may be the most important week of the regular season.
Marble Falls travels to face Fredericksburg (9-7, 5-1) Tuesday, March 4, and returns home to welcome San Antonio Davenport (6-6-2, 5-0-1), the two squads that are ahead of the Mustangs in the district standings. The junior varsities play at 5 p.m. and the varsities follow.
Against Wimbeley, the Mustangs got the scoring going in the second half and led 1-0 until the final 30 seconds. That’s when the Texans scored a meaningless goal. By then head coach Ryan Craven had substituted all positions freely.
Craven emphasized the team wasn’t performing badly and told them so during the intermission. The Mustangs had chances to score; it was just a matter of finishing plays.
“Hey guys, you’re pointing fingers at each other. You’re panicking cause we’re not scoring. You’re not playing badly. It’s just not getting to the back of the net. Stay positive, bring energy, and it’ll happen. I can’t want this more for you than you do. We can’t afford to tie this game or lose it. You have to come out in the second half and score.”
Sure enough the goals came thanks to Juan Hernandez Barajas, Eli Chocoj, Joaquin Aguilar and Jose Segura Bautista.
Craven pointed out the Mustangs’ goals didn’t come from the players who had been scoring to begin the season. Wimberley did everything it could to ensure Marco Almazan and Esteban Dominguez didn’t show up on the score sheet.
“Teams are figuring out how to play us,” he said. “They man-marked Marco and Joaquin. Marco had 2 assists. Eli, the freshman, scored and had an assist, Esteban had an assist.”
The coach was encouraged to see the ball distribution from Almazan and Dominguez, noting it says plenty about their mindsets and how they simply want the team to succeed.
“We moved Esteban to midfield,” he said. “That allows us to control the midfield. He’s doing a good job of being selfless. He’s still having an impact on what we’re doing.”
Defensively, he was pleased with the play of Presiliano Saurez and Chocoj.
The freshman is making the most of his opportunity on the varsity, the coach said.
“He started out on the JV doing good things,” Craven said. “I had a couple of guys sick and injured. He’s gradually getting more and more playing time.”
Four games remain in the regular season and two are on the road, including at Fischer Canyon Lake (5-13, 0-6) March 11. The last game of the regular season season is at home against Bandera (10-7-2, 2-4) March 14 to end the regular season.
The Mustangs understand what’s at stake.
“We have to beat Fredericksburg,” Craven said. “The next two games are for the district championship. I’m proud of the kids for playing with level heads and not doing anything stupid.”
