SOC: 'Riders clinch playoff spot
opponent during earlier season action. The 'Rider have clinched a
playoff spot and will complete the regular season tonight in Hudson.
(Photo by John Krueger)
For the second consecutive season, the Center boys’ soccer team is headed to the postseason. Unlike last season when the season went down to the wire before the Roughriders received their first-ever postseason berth in the history of the program, CHS secured their spot Tuesday night with a convincing 6-0 victory over Diboll to claim a spot in the 'second season'.
The 'Riders overcame two poor showings in their previous matches on Tuesday night to roll past Diboll, 6-0, at Roughrider Stadium. The win, Center's third shutout of the season and first in District 35-4A play, improved CHS to 3-5-1 against district competition and clinched the fourth and final postseason berth from the league. Center is now 5-7-2 on the season.
The 'Riders - and all playoff participants from the district, including Jacksonville, Palestine and Nacogdoches - will receive a first-round bye in the postseason, and open the Area round of the playoffs on March 22 or 23 against the No.2 team from District 33-4A. Center Head Coach Richard Ruiz said that opponent will probably be either Waco Midway or Waco High.
In the victory over Diboll on Tuesday, Jose Gonzalez scored an early goal, followed by goals by Eduardo Chavez and Rene Solis before the break as the Roughriders assumed a commanding 3-0 lead at intermission.
"Our guys pretty much dominated the game from the start," Ruiz commented later. "They boys knew they had to play hard to get ready for the playoffs and leave no doubt of whey they were returning to the postseason.
"Although the past few games have not been the best for us because of some circumstances off the field, the players knew they were going to have to step it up and play harder and better to help our team get into the playoffs.
"We also know going into the final game [against Hudson] that we need to have a great effort by everyone and can't play careless soccer because we want to go into the playoffs on a high note and Hudson has played the teams in the district hard this year."
Looking ahead to the playoffs, Ruiz said he would prefer to play on natural grass rather than artificial turf in the postseason because his team has played the majority of its games on grass. The stadium for the first-round game has yet to be determined.