by MOSES LEOS III
Correction: In our print edition, the Lehman player in the above photo was named as Aimee Vargas. The player is freshman Pamela Lasprilla. Apologies for the mistake.
Just 48 hours before their Area round match against Cedar Park on March 28, the Lehman Lady Lobos soccer team completed a magical comeback for the ages.
The team rallied back from a 3-0 deficit midway through the first half against Pflugerville Connally, trading goals and leads. Still, 100 minutes of play could not determine a victor. The game went to a penalty kick shootout, with the Lady Lobos winning one of the most emotionally charged games in program history.
Two days later, Lehman needed to drum up the same magic that earned them the big bi-district round win.
But, the Lady Timberwolves, winners of District 51-4A, proved to be a team that no magic could dispell. Cedar Park’s relentless offense and stifling defense overwhelmed Lehman, as the Lady Lobos fell 7-0, ending Lehman’s 2013 season and postseason run.
Cedar Park’s dominance was felt early and often, as the Lady Timberwolves were able to concoct numerous offensive chances in the Lehman zone. The Lady Lobos fought to get beyond the midfield, but overcoming the defensive prowess of Cedar Park proved to be something Lehman could not accomplish.
It only took Cedar Park four minutes to score their first goal, another six minutes of action for the Lady Timberwolves to net their second. In both instances, the Lady Lobos were unable to keep possession, as Cedar Park aggressively attacked Lehman’s midfield.
From there, Cedar Park’s speed advantage took effect, as the forwards, led by Sophie Sanchez, sped beyond the range of Lehman defenders. Their speed and tenacity in the scoring third proved to be a challenge that Lehman could not handle.
“All we could do was to predict their plays and keep up with them,” said senior fullback Anjelica Romero, who acknowledged the standout play of the Lady Timberwolves. “We just kept pushing, playing aggressive. We showed so much effort tonight.”
The most surprising aspect of the night was Lehman’s inability to create offensive chances on the counter-attack – something that the Lobos had excelled in all season long. “Our style is always on the counter-attack, to get a quick goal on teams. Tonight, we could not get anything going. We showed some signs of life, but one off touch stopped a play,” Lehman head coach Nauri Garica said. “Cedar Park had a very good defense. That was a good, solid team. We got outplayed. We got out-hustled.“
Not helping matters were the tired legs of the Lady Lobos as a whole. The team looked like players who had been in a lengthy overtime tussle. Gone were the legs of leading goal scorers Pressley Bailey, Mariah Tamayo and Shayla Seeger-Avona, who never were able to generate offensive breakaway opportunities. Additionally, the Lady Lobos seemed unable to keep the pressure off, giving up possession frequently, which led to Cedar Park scoring chances.
“Everyone was beat up after the (Connally) game. We only had one day to recover. I guess it was not enough for us. Yet, we still gave it all we got,” Romero said.
The Lady Lobos continued to fight with vigor, but the Cedar Park offense continued to bombard Lehman’s defenses. The breaking point came late in the first half, as Cedar Park’s Kassi Hormuth broke away from the Lobo backline and scored, making Lehman’s halftime deficit 3-0.
Unfortunately, there was no magic comeback for the Lady Lobos, who could not pull out another memorable rally.
Cedar Park scored four more goals in the second half, as its relentless offense overwhelmed a tired Lehman squad. “I know girls give everything they have in everything they play. Tuesday was evidence of that,” Garcia said. “However, Cedar Park outhustled us on fifty-fifty balls. That’s what won the game for them.”
Despite the struggles, the Lady Lobos displayed remarkable courage until the clock ran out. The play of senior goalkeeper Evelyn Martinez proved that point, as she made one tremendous save after another, playing “her tail off,” in the words of Garcia.
“We just kept pushing each other to keep going,” Martinez said.
At the end of the evening, the Lady Lobos completed one of the longest playoff runs in the history of the program. For the team and its seniors, this season will be remembered for many years to come.
“This season has gone by so fast. We have done so many amazing things the entire way. It was hard, but we made it through. We made it this far; we are so proud of ourselves,” Romero said.
The team’s ability to further develop next season is something Garcia eagerly anticipates. “It is a step forward,” said Garcia, talking about how much Lehman had accomplished in 2013. “However, our goal is to win a championship. In district play, we fell short; the path in the playoffs also could have been different.”
Overall, Garcia was proud of the run the Lady Lobos had in 2012. “I am happy of what we accomplished this year, especially with losing Max (Soto) during the playoff run,” Garcia said. “What we did Tuesday night, it was magical. This year was fun. To win a playoff game, to have your team represented in the Area, it’s magical. But we tasted that success and want more. Our girls want more.”
Lehman ends the season with a 17-5-2 record, 8-2-2 in District 49-4A.
