By Moses Leos III
Only the weather seemed to hold down the Lehman Lobo boys soccer team as they stormed to a 2-0-1 record and second place finish at the 2015 Rebel Cup.
While the threat of icy weather denied the Lobos a chance to win the tournament, first year head coach Brad Baker said the tournament helped team cohesion.
“I thought it was a good opportunity for the team to figure out how each other plays,” Baker said. “As the tournament progressed, our unity progressed, and we started to win.”
Lehman won its pool by amassing 23 points during the three games played on Thursday and Friday. It set the Lobos up for a championship game match against the Crockett Cougars, which won its pool with 24 points.
However, Saturday’s championship game was halted as the threat of winter weather arrived. The match was ultimately cancelled with Crockett named the 2015 Rebel Cup champions.
But Lehman reached that point by going unbeaten in pool play. It began with a 3-3 draw against Austin Reagan.
Lehman trailed 1-0, but stormed back as both teams traded goals until the end.
Momentum carried over into the Lobos 2-1 win over Elgin. Baker said the Lobos played “15 minutes of our best soccer of the season.”
Pool play culminated in a 4-1 win over Corpus Christi Calallen.
“I thought we played better in second game than in the last game,” Baker said. “But all of the kids got playing time and it was good to see different kids at different positions.”
Baker said the play of junior Hector Marquez stood out, as he said Marquez is the “missing piece” in the team’s back line.
Adding to that was junior Diego Garcia, who was able to generate offense for the Lobos.
As district play begins, maintaining possession and limiting “TV touches” is the focus for the Lobos. The Lobos host Austin Akins at Lobo Field on Tuesday.
But for Baker, who is in the midst of his first year, the response he obtained from his team was welcoming.
“Usually, I was just the guy that helped with defense,” Baker said. “To see how they respond and try for me as a head coach, and controlling most of the aspects of the game, it was nice to see the respect from the kids.”
