The Lehman Lobos came back to tie the game 1-1 against the Leander Lions Friday in their last game of the 2018 season.
The Lobos ended the season 5-10-3 overall, and 3-7-2 in district.
Lehman had most of the possession in the first half. The Lobos kept movement in the middle of the field trying to work it to the outside and past the Leander defense.
With 28 minutes left on the clock, the Lions got a quick ball up the field to get a shot off and missed an opportunity to take the lead in the first half.
A Lion midfielder took a long shot towards the goal, and goalkeeper Mark Piedra stepped up a little too early and barely got a touch on the ball. With Piedra on the ground, the Lions took a shot in the box, but Noah Marquez kicked the threat away from the net.
Now with momentum on their side, the Lions took over possession and were trying to take the lead before halftime. Leander missed their opportunities, and both teams were tied 0-0 at halftime.
Both teams came out of halftime more aggressive and looking to take the lead. Leander earned its first goal off a Lehman foul with 25 minutes left.
The Lions earned a free kick outside the box. Leander kicked it in and got a head on it to put it in the back of the net to gather a 1-0 lead.
Lehman’s defense broke down after the goal; the Lobos were forced to try anything to equalize. The Lobos were pounding the Leander defense, and with nine minutes left on the clock, they got their goal.
A quick pass across the goal from Eric Guadarrama put Josh Swies in position to put the ball in the back of the net and tie the game 1-1.
Piedra said getting the goal late in the second half is what the team needed to stay in the game and defend the Lions.
“Everyone put their heads in the game, everyone was playing well and everyone was playing as a team,” Piedra said. “We all had that chemistry tonight, and I think that goal from Swies really pumped us up even more to try harder.”
Head coach Rene Medina said his team worked until the end, and didn’t stop to finish out the season strong.
“We focused on telling them two things going into this: Represent the name and define yourself,” Medina said. “Especially with the seniors, what kind of legacy do you want to leave behind. I think they worked their tails off and fought until the end, they made it a competitive affair and that’s all we can ask for.”
