MCALLEN – The Boerne High boys soccer team has advanced to the state soccer tournament for the second straight season.
The path the Hounds took to Georgetown this year was a little different compared to last season, but the results have been the same.
Boerne is the Region IV-4A champs and heading back to state after the Hounds pounded Progreso 8-1 in the regional semis last Friday and then topped Taylor 6-2 on Saturday in the regional finals.
BHS is 25-2-1 overall and plays Wednesday in the state semis against Stafford at 4 p.m. The winner plays for the 4A state championship on Friday, 2:30 p.m. against the winner of the Stephenville – Celina match.
Last year, there wasn’t a regional tournament because of Covid and the Hounds played single matches up until the state finals. The UIL restored regional tournaments this year and BHS coach Michael Strong said it presented challenges they didn’t face last season.
“Last year we played Tuesday and Friday and got the extra rest, but this was our first experience doing a regional tournament and it’s a whole other animal,” he said. “The heat, the wind, the environment in McAllen; it was a lot of fun but it also had its obstacles.”
The main obstacle being that the Hounds played on Friday afternoon and had to turn around and play on Saturday morning.
The fortunate thing for Boerne is that they had such a big lead over Progresso on Friday that Strong was able to take out starters to keep their legs fresh for Saturday.
The Greyhounds looked rested on Saturday and jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead over the Ducks.
Senior Landon Murphy, last year’s 4A state tournament MVP, said they like to start fast.
“That’s our goal for every game, go out as hard as we can and get goals as soon as possible,” he said.
Murphy added that each goal scored makes it harder for the other team.
“Falling behind two goals is dangerous and three goals is where it gets out of hand and by the fourth goal they shut down,” he said.
Senior Sam Theiss agreed.
“Their heads were down after that first one,” he said. “You have to score first against us.”
As good as Boerne was last year in winning state, Strong said they’re a better team this season and it’s hard to argue with the results, BHS won its two matches at the regional tourney by a combined score of 14-3.
“We’re more balanced,” he noted. “You can’t take everything away from us. It’s like in football, if you play us against the run, we’re going to throw it deep and if you play us deep, we’re going to run. We have to understand what they’re giving us and go exploit it.”
Murphy said they still have more work to do.
“We had the mentality to defend and that’s what we’re planning on doing, going to defend that title,” he said.
Theiss said last year’s experience at state should help them this week.
“We don’t have to play with pressure,” he said. “We’ve done it before so let’s just go play and get the job done.”
4A BOYS STATE SEMIFINALS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, BOERNE VS. STAFFORD, AT 4 P.M.
Comment
Comments