By Moses Leos III.
The Lehman Boys Soccer team played host Friday night to Lockhart to close out the first half of their district schedule on what turned out to be a perfect night for soccer.
Needing to get back on track after an away defeat, the Lobo offense found its rhythm, pummeling the Lions 7-0.
Lehman’s forwards and wings gave Lockhart fits all night. Only nine minutes into the match, sophomore Diego Garcia sent a through ball to the right wing, where junior Jorge “Coco” Balderas sent a shot past the keeper for a 1-0 lead.
The Lions almost evened the score minutes later as a Lockhart defender hit a 50-yard free kick that skipped under Lehman goalkeeper Mikey Torres’ legs and squirted just wide of the goal. From there on, it was all Lobos.
Garcia continued to pressure the Lockhart defense, as he crossed another pass directly in front of goal that eluded the Lockhart keeper. After a battle for possession, Lehman senior Albert Percastegui put the ball in the back of the net. The goal put Lehman up 2-0 with only five minutes left in the first half, providing momentum for the Lobos.
“Diego gave a great cross in front of the goal, Alex [Martinez] tried to finish, but had a defender in front of him,” Percastegui said.” I could see the goalie was confused and the ball came right in front of me, so I just tapped it in.”
With everything going right for the Lobos, Garcia was fouled inside the penalty box with less than a minute left. He buried his penalty shot in the upper left for a 3-0 Lehman lead at halftime.
The Lobos wasted no time adding to that lead in the second half. Substitute David Torres streaked down the left side in the opening minute and found Garcia for a 4-0 lead. The Lobos’ combination of Garcia, Torres and Balderas combined to score or assist on the next three goals, placing an exclamation point on a successful night for the Lehman club.
Garcia finished the night with two goals and two assists and was the Lobos’ offensive catalyst. Torres chipped in with two goals and two assists of his own, all in the second half. The Lions defense did not have an answer for any of the players that the Lobos put up top in the offensive attack.
The victory puts the Lobos right in the thick of the district race, having dropped two games and finishing the first half of district play with a 4-2 record. Lehman begins the second half of district play at Cedar Creek on Friday.
