by MARK CAUL
Lehman’s Melinda Perez (right) thwarts a San Marcos shot attempt during a 2-2 tie with the Lady Rattlers. The Lady Lobos started the week with a 5-0 blanking of Seguin to pick up their first district win. (Photo by Judy Cooper)
The most important part of the season has begun for Nauri Garcia and his Lehman girls soccer team.
If they are to make a serious run for one of the four playoff spots in District 51-4A, the margin for error has now become slimmer than ever.
Unfortunately for the Lady Lobos, they seem to have trouble putting distance between themselves and the San Marcos Lady Rattlers.
Lehman took an early lead but couldn’t quite hold off the hard-charging Lady Rattlers and the two teams settled for a 2-2 tie for the second time this season.
“We always seem to have trouble with this team,” said Garcia. “We played good defense, but they got off some really good shots and we had a couple of shots that just didn’t quite get in. I’m very proud of our kids for the effort after all they’ve been through this week.”
Lehman got on the scoreboard first as Amara Smith found the net early in the first half to stake the Lady Lobos to a 1-0 halftime lead.
San Marcos (9-8-2, 2-4-2 District 51-4A) battled back to tie the score as forward Jamie Williamson broke free of the Lady Lobos’ defense and fed Mirla Suarez for the tying goal 15 minutes into the second half.
The Lady Rattlers quickly added another goal just three minutes later with Michelle Menchaca scoring on an assist from Mia Finch.
Garcia credits San Marcos for taking advantage of a rare lapse in his team’s defense, but believed his team would respond.
“They made a good play to get free and score that goal but I knew we were going to score again, so I wasn’t too worried,” Garcia said. “I just wanted our team to keep attacking them and luckily we did that.”
With just under 15 minutes remaining in the match Lehman’s Dominique Jaquez banged in the tying goal on a shot that just glanced inside the goal post.
Both teams managed to string together late runs but were unable to score as time expired.
Each coach agreed that their respective teams would have to finish strong to qualify for the playoffs.
“If our girls would have played the entire game like we played the second half, it would have been different,” San Marcos head coach Al Dressen said. “We just need to focus on putting a full game together in our next games and maybe we’ll start getting the wins we need instead of settling for these ties.”
The Lady Lobos, who were coming off their first district win of the season in a 5-0 blanking of Seguin, need to get on a wining streak to give themselves an opportunity for a return trip to the playoffs.
“We know we have to start winning the games we’re supposed to win and also try to steal a game that we’re not supposed to win,” Garcia said. “We still have six games left, but it’s getting to the point where we have to start winning some games.”
Lehman will play against Hays Friday night at Shelton Stadium starting at 6 p.m.
The Lady Lobos and Lady Rebs played to a scoreless tie during their first matchup back in January, which was the first time Lehman has ever tied or beaten Hays in girls soccer.
“There’s a lot on the line so we know it will be a different game this time around,” said Garcia. “But that last game gave our girls a little bit of confidence that they can actually play with Hays. It should be a great game.”
