The Tenaha Tiger soccer team is off to a promising start to the 2011 season as it began the year with a 5-3 win over Hudson and then dropping a pair of one-goal decisions in the Eustace Tournament.
The only one-sided setback came in the Tigers' final game at the tourney, when they dropped a 4-0 setback to Sunny Vale. THS now sits at 1-3 on the season heading into action this week.
Tenaha will travel to Center on Tuesday night to take on the Roughriders at 7 p.m. and then will not play again until Jan. 25 when the Tigers visit Liberty Eylau. Friday's game against Pine Tree has been cancelled.
Tenaha 5, Hudson 3 -- Tenaha started the season off with an impressive victory on the road as Jose Campos scored three goals in a 5-3 Tiger win at Hudson.
Campos knocked in two goals in the first half, while William Lazaro added two more as the Tigers scored four goals in the first half as THS led 4-0 at the break.
Campos added his third goal of the game in the second half and the Tiger defense got plenty of help as the offense finished with 24 shots on goal.
Richard Koller picked up the win in the net for THS, working a shutout for the first 60 minutes of the match. He picked up four saves on four shots. Timothy Hafford picked up seven saves in relief as he faced 10 shots.
"The kids played really hard from start to finish; they're really coming together as a team," said Tenaha Head Coach Chris Green. "I was very pleased on how well our defense played. We gave up three late goals, but besides that they played great."
Eustace 1, Tenaha 0 (Eustace Tournament) -- Tenaha recorded 18 shots on goal in its opening game of the Eustace Tournament on Thursday, but dropped a 1-0 decision to the host team.
Eustace took a 1-0 lead at the half and then held that advantage in the final 40 minutes.
Richard Koller took the loss for the Tigers, but picked up 19 saves on 20 shots on goal.
"It was disappointing to go three-and-out at the tournament, but the kids played really well," Green commented. "The first game we gave 100 percent and matched Eustace shot for shot. They were just fortunate to get one of their shots into the net."
"Our goalie play and defense was outstanding. There were two very close calls on penalty kicks against Campos in the second half."
Kemp 2, Tenaha 1 (Eustace Tournament -- Kemp took a 2-0 lead at the half of Thursday's second game for the Tigers, and then held off the Tigers in the second half for a 2-1 victory.
Campos put Tenaha on the board in the second half with a penalty kick, but the Tigers made just one of their 17 shots on goal.
Koller worked in goal for the Tigers, facing 19 shots, picking up 17 saves.
"This was another close game and we didn't have as many shots on goal as Kemp did and they just capitalized on theirs," Green continued. "After giving up the two goals early, we never gave up and played hard until the final whistle."
Sunny Vale 4, Tenaha 0 (Eustace Tournament) -- On Friday Sunny Vale was too much for Tigers, taking a 2-0 lead at intermission and securing a 4-0 win. Tenaha failed to convert any of their 22 shots on goal.
Koller had four saves on six shots, giving up two goals in goal for Tenaha. Hafford also worked in goal, permitting two goals while posting 10 saves on 12 shots.
"The game was a lot closer than the score indicated," Green explained about the final contest. "We played them well in the first half, with 15 shots, but we had nothing to show for it. Sunny Vale had only six shots, but managed to score two goals.
"Overall, I'm pleased with the way the kids played at the tournament. We only gave up seven goals in three games and because it was only the third tournament we've ever been to with this program, it was a huge improvement over the past."