SOC: Midway defense silences Center, 3-0
defensive Tuesday night, recording a 3-0 win over CHS at Bruce
Field. (Photo by John Krueger)
ATHENS, Texas -- The Center Roughriders found out how life is in 'true' Class 4A soccer from Waco Tuesday night when they took on Waco Hewit Midway in the Area round of the playoffs and dropped a 3-0 decision here at Bruce Field.
The setback ends another productive season for the 'Riders, who made the playoffs for the second straight season. Center posted a 6-8-2 season mark, while Midway moves on in the playoffs with an impressive 18-2-2 record.
The Panthers will take on Nacogdoches (12-6-1) in the Sectional round of the playoffs later this week. The Dragons, who are members of District 35-4A with Center, popped Waco LaVega (15-8), 3-1, in Huntsville on Tuesday.
In another other boys' playoff match involving a District 35-4A squad on Tuesday, Waco High (17-3) knocked off Jacksonville (13-8-1), 6-0. On Monday night, Waco University (20-1) blanked Palestine, 5-0, to end the Wildcats' season at 14-7-6.
Center battled the Midway well at times on the artificial surface, but couldn't produce deep in the Panthers' end of the field as the Roughriders were held to just one shot in the contest. Meanwhile, Midway finished with 18.
"It was a tough team, but I’m proud of my guys," said Center Head Coach Richard Ruiz after the contest. "When you get into the playoffs and in big games like this, little mistakes can hurt you because good teams take advantage of it. And it was the little things we were doing that [Midway] took advantage of and was able to score off of."
Ruiz said he was disappointed that his team wasn't able to obtain more scoring opportunities, but he admitted he knew the task wasn't going to be easy coming into the postseason match.
"I thought we should have more opportunities to score," the Center coach admitted. "I think we should have moved the ball a little more in the middle of the field. We were working toward that, but we just couldn't get it moved in that area enough.
"This is a different caliber team than we play during the year. But I'm proud of the fact that, even though this was a strong team, our kids kept battling back all game long and never gave up. Our guys hustled the whole time and I'm very proud of the season my seniors gave this year. They were a good group of kids that are young and we definitely have good things to look forward to in the future from this program."
Waco Midway was led offensively by Phil Pillers, who recorded one assist and had six shots. Zack Tyler added a goal off four shots.
Andres Chavez recorded the only shot on goal for the Roughriders. That opportunity came in the first half with 21 minutes remaining before intermission with CHS trailing by a 1-0 count. The header from eight yards out was saved by the Midway goalkeeper.
After both teams appeared to be 'feeling' each other out early on, it was the Panthers who scored on their first shot attempt with 32:06 left in the half. Tyler took a crossing pass from Keith Sims and he headed the ball into the upper right-hand corner of the goal for a 1-0 Midway lead.
Center's offense was slowed for 12 minutes in the first half when leading scorer Julio Martinez went down with an injury. But he came back in and it appeared the 'Riders' tempo picked up along with it.
Midway stretched its lead to 2-0 with 4:23 left in the half when Brandon Disney took a throw-in from Pillers and headed a shot into the lower right side of the net.
Roughrider goalkeeper Carlos Arroyo was busy during the first 40 minutes of action, recording six saves. He finished the contest with nine.
Midway then outshot Center 10-0 in the final period. After a pair of spectacular saves by Arroyo, the Panthers' Roberto Vilchis found the net on a left-footed shot on a perfect crossing pass from Chavis Colliver. The insurance goal at the 8:37 mark of the second half iced the match.