Fernando Mercado scored two goals to help Lehman become the first Lobo team in any sport to win a playoff game in a 3-0 victory over Pflugerville Connally Friday night. The Rebels boys also stormed back for a 3-2 bi-district playoff win Friday evening against Manor. The good times didn’t last for the Hays and Lehman boys soccer teams, as both squads suffered season-ending losses by one-goal margins Tuesday night in the area round of the playoffs. (photo by Stephen Cooper)
By JASON GORDON
The Lobo boys soccer team broke down a barrier Friday night that saw its first brick positioned in 2004, the year Lehman High School opened.
The Lobos became the first Lehman team in any sport to win a playoff game, with a dominating 3-0 victory at Pflugerville Connally in the bi-district round.
“I think this is huge for the school. Lehman should be seen as a strong opponent across the board in all sports,” Lehman boys head soccer coach Jay Sansom said. “The teams we play should be thinking if they don’t play well they are going to get the hell beat out of them. Winning breeds winning, and that’s what not only our team but a lot of teams are starting to do at Lehman.”
It looked like the success was going to continue into the regional quarterfinals, but after the Lobos built a 2-0 first-half lead against Vandegrift at home Tuesday night in the area round, the Vipers rallied for a 4-3 win in overtime to end Lehman’s soccer season.
“Despite the fact we lost Tuesday, I was absolutely proud of my team making history,” said Lehman senior Andres Castro. “We set a standard here at Lehman. The playoff win was amazing and after the game we were ecstatic. We are happy to know we have achieved one of our biggest goals. We are proud to be Lobos and know that we represented the school with pride.”
Against Connally, Fernando Mercado scored both of Lehman’s first half goals. The first came after he took a long pass from Pablo Martinez and then beat the Connally goalkeeper with a kick angled into the right side of the net.
Minutes later, Mercado dribbled his way through four would-be Connally defenders before chipping the ball into the back of the net from close range, and the Lobos led 2-0 at the break.
Five minutes into the second half, Josh Newenham powered a free kick from 40 yards out that Francesco Bonfe headed in for a goal to give Lehman a comfortable 3-0 advantage.
Tuesday against Vandegrift, Eli Guajardo scored two goals to give Lehman a 2-0 lead early. The Vipers struck back and led 3-2 in the second half before Mercado scored on a penalty kick with 16 minutes left in regulation.
Vandegrift took the lead for good shortly into the 20-minute overtime period, as Lehman never could score the equalizer after the Vipers made it 4-3.
The Hays High boys soccer won at Manor for the second straight year in the first round of the playoffs, but trailed the Mustangs 2-0 at half before rallying for a 3-2 win.
“When we came out in the second half, we were a completely different team,” Hays head coach Jason Burnett said.
Taylor Herselman got the scoring party started for the Rebs with a corner kick from the right side that didn’t get much more than a foot off the ground before bending past the Manor goalkeeper and into the net.
Omar Rangel passed to Christian Varela, who drove right down the middle for a chip-in goal to tie the score 2-2 midway through the second half.
The same two players combined for the game winner, as Rangel passed to Varela, who hammered a shot in from 20 yards out with 10 minutes left in the game.
The Hays boys team would also see its season come to a close in the area round Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss at Vista Ridge.
The Rebels led 1-0 at half after a Uriel Hernandez goal, but Vista Ridge found the back of the net twice in the second half for the win.
“We accomplished a lot of our goals this year, like winning district for the second straight year, and I’m proud of our team,” Burnett said.
Both local girls teams in the bi-district playoffs Friday night suffered season-ending defeats.
The Lady Rebels lost 3-2 at Connally and the Lady Lobos lost 7-0 at home against Hendrickson.
