CHS kickers fall to Maidens, 4-1
earlier season action. Esparza was credited with outstanding
defensive effort Saturday as CHS came up short against Jackson-
ville, 4-1. (Photo by John Krueger)
The Center Lady Riders have begun the chase for the District 35-4A championship with arguably the toughest road in the league and their record has shown it. But despite their 4-1 setback to league-leading Jacksonville Saturday at Roughrider Stadium, there was a 'silver lining'.
Center (6-6) has now dropped consecutive games for the first time this season, making the latest time in the team's six-year history before the Lady Riders have lost two in a row. The Lady Riders have fallen to the two league favorites - Jacksonville and Palestine - but have given up far less goals than in years' past.
"The girls are giving a tremendous effort on the field and I couldn't be more proud of them," Center Head Coach Jonathan Vick stated. "Jacksonville has a great team and I have to give them a lot of credit, but we played a great game against them and missed several opportunities to make it a much closer contest."
The score was tied 0-0 as intermission approached when the Maidens were able to squeeze in a goal to take a 1-0 lead.
Center senior forward Fabiola Solis had an opportunity to tie the contest early in the second half, but the ball sailed just over the crossbar. Jacksonville then scored three more goals - one on a penalty kick - to move out to a 4-0 lead.
Solis scored a goal to create the 4-1 final, but it was the missed opportunities that left the Lady Riders short of pulling the upset.
"Last year we were down 6-0 at halftime to Jacksonville, so to only trail 1-0 at halftime today was such a tremendous improvement," Vick explained. "Yes, we wanted to win, but what this game tells me is that we have what it takes to challenge for a playoff spot in this district if the girls will continue to dedicate themselves to work together getting the job done.
"This was our first goal against Jacksonville in six years. It shows me that these girls don't give up and continue to work to get better in every game.
"These losses will make us better. They'll make us a stronger team and I'm exciting about what's ahead."
Vick credited the outstanding defensive play against the Maidens by juniors Berenice Esparza and Stephanie Araujo. He said junior Norma Ruiz and Solis came through with outstanding offensive efforts.
"A goal in soccer is comparable to a touchdown in football," Vick compared. "We were fourth-and-goal at the goal line several times today and just couldn't quite make that one last kick to put the ball in the net. We had corner kicks that were placed in good spots, but the shot just wouldn't go into the goal.
"But I can't give our girls enough credit. Overall, their effort was great. What we want is a chance to win and if they keep on working that's what we're going to have.
"We might have lost 4-1, but it was one of the most exciting games we've had here in Center since I've been here."
Jacksonville (4-6-5) is now tied with Palestine (11-2-1) for first place in the District 35-4A standings as each has 2-0 records. Palestine blanked Diboll, 3-0, on Friday. Nacogdoches, which will make up its postponed game Friday at Hudson Monday at 5 p.m. Hudson is 0-1.
The Lady Riders will return to action Tuesday when they travel to Nacogdoches for a 6 p.m. kickoff.