SOC: 'Riders slam Hudson, 4-1
Wednesday's match against Hudson. Chavez finished with a goal
and an assist as Center won, 4-1. (Photo by John Krueger)
CENTER -- The Center Roughriders came out slow Wednesday night, falling behind to Hudson 1-0 less than six minutes into their match. But the 'Riders finished strong as they scored the last four goals of the game - including a 3-0 run in the second half - for a 4-1 league win over the Hornets here at Roughrider Stadium.
The victory, Center's second straight after three league defeats, moves the 'Riders into fourth place in the District 35-4A standings after the first round of league play. Center, which improved to 4-5-1 on the season, is now 2-3 in district and just one game behind third-place Nacogdoches, which fell to Palestine 1-0 Wednesday night. Center is in control of its own destiny for the one of the four playoff spots as the school battles for its second consecutive Class 4A playoff berth.
This contest didn't look like it was going to have a positive outcome for Center early on as CHS fell behind 1-0 with 34:58 left in the first half on a penalty kick after a Hornet player was hit inside the box. At that point Hudson had outshot the Roughriders 3-1.
But that goal appeared to awaken the Roughriders. From that point on in the first half, Center outshot Hudson 10-4 and tied the score with 29:19 left in the half when Julio Martinez broke free down the middle of the field and took a crossing pass from Eduardo Chavez and easily pounded the ball into the back of the net.
"We seemed to play better as the game went on tonight," said Center Head Coach Richard Ruiz after the match. "We began moving the ball better and playing a lot more together as a team, which was great to see.
"We've got to continue to play this way if we want to get where we're trying to get, and that's the playoffs. We have to definitely win the games like this one that we're 'supposed' to win."
Center finished the game with 29 shots on goal for the match, while Hudson was limited to 12 - only nine after the initial goal of the match. Ten different Center players recorded shots in the match, led by Martinez, who attempted nine. Chavez added five shots, Luis Reyes and Rene Solis each recorded three and Felipe Parra, German Lopez and Jonathan Carmona each tried two shots.
Roughrider goalkeeper Carlos Arroyo also shut down the Hornets, recording seven saves on 12 HHS shot attempts.
"Getting wins in the last two games has really gotten the kids' confidence up," Ruiz explained. "There for a while, those losses were getting the kids - and me - frustrated. But these wins will give us confidence going into the Palestine match on Friday, because we'll definitely need our 'A' game then."
Center had other opportunities to score in the first half. Reyes attempted a penalty kick at the 18:03 mark of the half, but a diving save by the Hudson goalie kept the score tied. Arroyo also had a diving save of his own for CHS with 16 minutes left before intermission.
The Roughriders began to roll in the second half. After Hudson outshot them 2-1 in the first four minutes of the period, Center rolled off 12 consecutive shots over the next 21 minutes, scoring three goals during that span.
Parra pushed a pass to Solis who was in front of the goal, and Solis sliced a shot to the left bottom corner of the goal to put Center ahead 2-1 with 28:40 on the clock.
Chavez gave the Roughriders an insurance goal with 18:42 remaining when he hit a shot off the crossbar, moved in position and took his own rebound and kicked the ball at point-blank range toward the goal. The Hudson goalkeeper tried to stop it, but the ball trickled past his outstretched hands and into the goal for a 3-1 CHS lead.
Reyes set up the final goal for Center, crossing the ball to Solis, who slammed the ball from 12 yards out and it sliced past Martinez and into the net with 17:58 still on the clock.
From that point Hudson only seriously threatened once as a shot went off the crossbar at the 8-minute mark. Center posted four shots down the stretch, with Martinez taking three.
Center will be at home Friday night once again when the Roughriders face Palestine. Since Wildcats' new turf field has yet to be completed, both boys’ and girls' games will be played in Center. The junior varsity boys will kick off at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity boys and varsity girls.