The Boerne soccer teams are playing in Corpus Christi this weekend after both won their third-round playoff matches Tuesday night.
The Lady Greyhounds defeated district foe Wimberley and the Boerne boys held off Marble Falls to advance.
BHS played Friday in the fourth round or regional semifinals. The boys tangled with Hidalgo, a rematch of last year’s regional finals contest in which the Pirates prevailed on PKs and went on to win the 4A boys state championship.
The Lady Hounds played Friday against C.C. London.
Friday’s winners play Saturday in the regional championships with state berths up for grabs.
For results, be sure to check the Boerne Star at www.boernestar.com and also on X at @BoerneStarSport
Varsity Boys
Boerne edged Marble Falls, 3-2, Tuesday at Canyon Lake and defeated the Mustangs for the second year in a row in the third round.
BHS coach Michael Strong gave Marble Falls credit for being a tough squad. The Hounds were No. 2 in the state and the Mustangs were No. 10 going into Tuesday.
“They’re a very good team, easily a top 2 or 3 team in the region,” he said. “They have 15 seniors and felt like it was their year.”
The Hounds jumped out to a 3-0 lead but the Mustangs tallied the final two goals to keep things interesting until the end. BHS scored all three goals with the wind behind them but the Mustangs snuck one through late in the first half to make it 3-1.
In the middle of the second half, at about the 60th minute, Marble Falls converted a free kick and it was 3-2.
At that point, Strong said they just grinded out the win.
“Our defense played well,” he said. “Our individual talent shined through; we had some great team goals.”
Hudson Vickery scored Boerne’s first goal on a free kick, then Shae Gonzales made it 2-0 on a Caleb Benchoff assist. Benchoff also assisted on Boerne’s final point, a Brett Hettie goal.
Varsity Girls
Tuesday’s contest with Wimberley at Smithson Valley turned windy and physical and the Lady Hounds handled both pretty well, winning 3-0.
BHS scored two goals going into the wind, something coach Jeremy Shannon said they’re good at.
“I feel it’s more of an advantage for us going into the wind because the ball will hold up. If we over touch, it won’t hurt us, but going with the wind if we over touch it’s going through the end line and you can’t catch up to it,” he said. “We actually play better going into the wind than against the wind.”
Freshman sensation Bella Pettet punched in Boerne’s first goal on a breakaway.
Later in the first half, Mahaley Merkens, who just returned from an injury, made it 2-0 with a second goal into the wind.
Merkens wasn’t expected back for the playoffs after suffering an injury in the last district match of the year, but willed and worked her way back onto the field for Tuesday’s match and even scored.
Boerne scored more going into the wind than with it behind them. Their lone goal in the second half came late in the match on a penalty kick by Kailey Stringfellow, who went upper 90 to blow it past the keeper.
It was a very physical match with a few yellow cards issued but Shannon said he kind of expected that.
“It’s always that way with Wimberley, they’re a good physical team and they really test us when it comes to that, but I’m proud of our girls for standing ground and giving it back to them,” he said. “I think we gave it back to them too much because a lot of the calls were against us. I’ll take those if it means we’re being aggressive.”
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