SOC: Lady Riders' playoff run comes up empty
for the ball during the first half of Friday's contest with the Lady
Hornets at Roughrider Stadium. Center couldn't put the ball in the
goal and fought to a 0-0 tie. CHS needed a win to make the play-
offs. (Photo by John Krueger)
CENTER -- With the first-ever playoff spot in the history of the program on the line Friday night, the Center Lady Rider soccer team had every reason to come out and put on their best performance of the year when it hosted last-place Hudson in the regular-season finale here at Roughrider Stadium. But, instead, Center came up empty, failing to score a goal and forced into a 0-0 standoff with the Lady Hornets, which eliminated CHS from the Class 4A playoff chase.
The Lady Riders finished the game with only seven shots - including none in the final 40 minutes of play - as they missed the postseason, finishing league play with a 2-7-1 record, while recording a regular season mark of 8-11-1. Both records were the best-ever in the 7-year history of the program.
Nevertheless, Nacogdoches won the 35-4A championship, with Palestine placing second, Jacksonville third and Diboll fourth. Those four teams will represent the district in the playoffs, which begin on May 22 and 23 for the league representatives.
Center only had to record a win over the Hudson to secure the program's first playoff spot. After outshooting the Lady Hornets 7-0 in the first half, the Lady Riders went stagnant offensively in the final period, failing to get off a shot.
"I really thought we'd have the lead at the half," said Lady Rider Head Coach Jonathan Vick. "But the fact that we didn't have it wasn't a major concern because we've been a second-half team all year long. The first time we played [Hudson] we were down 1-0 [at the half] and came back to beat them 2-1. Against Diboll, we were down 2-1 at the half and came back to win, 3-2.
"We were a second-half team, but tonight there was just something missing. It's hard to put my finger on it, but the girls just didn't give their best performance, and I think they know that."
Norma Ruiz led Center with five first-half shots on goal, while Jessica Soto and Fabiola Solis had one each. The Lady Riders also held the Lady Hornets with no shots on goal at intermission.
But CHS couldn't become the aggressive team that Vick told his team they needed to become to capture the win in the second half. In fact, the Lady Riders didn't get off a shot in the final 40 minutes. During the final 45 seconds, the action heated up as Center moved the ball deep in HHS territory. But the Hudson defense stiffened as defenders continued to kick the ball out of bounds with the clock winding down.
The Lady Hornets outshot Center in the final half, 4-0. One Hudson player had an open shot directly in front of the goal with 25:10 on the clock, but here shot went high. CHS goalkeeper Raquel Hernandez recorded three saves in the second half.
"This was a tough loss because there were more reasons to play well in this game than any other I've been associated with in my life," Vick explained. "It was Senior Night, it was the last home game of the year and if we won the game it would be the first playoff opportunity in the history of the program. The playoff implications were huge by themselves, but we just didn't come through. I just don't think the girls gave it 100 percent."
Despite the team narrowly missing the postseason fun, Vick said he feels the team continues to make strides in a positive direction.
"The program has definitely made its positive strides," he stated. "Just by looking at our record and the games we've played, the caliber of wins we've had, and just having the opportunity to make the playoffs in the last game of the regular season is more than we've ever had with this program before.
"It's just hard when you say you've made progression when you don't make the playoffs and you're home during Spring Break."