The Tenaha boys' soccer team continues to show improvement and promise as the season goes on. The Tigers used balanced scoring last Monday night when they blasted Spring Hill, 4-2, at Tiger Stadium in Tenaha.
Tenaha improved its season mark to 3-4 with the victory. The Tigers' game last Tuesday against Hudson was cancelled because of inclement weather. Friday's match at home against Liberty Eylau was postponed until this Thursday (Feb. 10) at 7 p.m. The Tigers also will host Tatum tonight (Tuesday) at 7 p.m.
The score was tied 2-2 at intermission. Tenaha scored first when Jose Campos found the back of the net on an unassisted goal. He then assisted on Tenaha's second score of the night. Campos laid a perfect corner kick to Eddie Marriquin, who popped in a diving header to give the Tigers their third multi-goal game of the season.
In the second half, Victor Flores got into the scoring act when he took a pass and beat four defenders to put himself in position in front of the goal as he sliced a shot past the Spring Hill goalie.
Brady Tovar became the fourth different player to score in the match for Tenaha, dribbling the ball past seven Panther defenders and then slamming the ball into the back of the net for an insurance goal as THS outscored the Panthers 2-0 in the final 40 minutes.
Tenaha also played excellent defense on the night, especially in the second half. Tiger goalie Richard Koller recorded 21 saves as he faced 25 shots on goal by Spring Hill.
"Richard had a perfect second half," said Tenaha Head Coach Chris Green. "He came up with a big save when he was faced one-on-one with an attacker about midway through the second half. He went all out and came up with the ball and some cleats to his face along with it, but held on to deny the goal.
"Late in the first half he was tested too. He stopped a well-placed free kick that appeared to be bending toward the goal when he deflected it over the cross bar.
"It was just an overall great job by the guys. I was very pleased the way we started the first half and then finished them off in the second half."
Pine Tree 2, Tenaha 1 -- The Tenaha Tigers dropped a 2-1 decision to Pine Tree at home on Jan. 28. Eddie Marriquin scored the lone goal for the Tigers.