Goalscorers in top form on MOJO Showcase Day 1
One of the most traditional and exciting season-opening boys soccer tournaments in the state of Texas, the MOJO Showcase is underway, with matches taking place in the Katy area from Thursday to Saturday. Reuniting 35 high school teams from several…
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Continue ReadingOne of the most traditional and exciting season-opening boys soccer tournaments in the state of Texas, the MOJO Showcase is underway, with matches taking place in the Katy area from Thursday to Saturday.
Reuniting 35 high school teams from several regions of the Lone Star State in 11 different venues, the MOJO Showcase features some of the best talent in the area.
We’ve watched a pair of matches on Thursday and here are our findings:
CLEMENTS 2 – 2 EISENHOWER
The duel between the Fort Bend Clements Rangers from Sugar Land and the Eisenhower Eagles from Aldine at the Mayde Creek High School started slow, but picked up in the second half and ended with a 2-2 draw that made justice to the hard-fought, balanced match played by the teams.
The Eagles struck first, scoring the only goal of the first half with senior striker Randy Torres getting his head on a ball deflected by Clements’ junior goalkeeper Calvin Millington to put it at the back of the net on the 18th-minute mark.
Clements’ forward Chris McMeans came up big in the second half, scoring a brace within minutes to turn things around. First, he fired a clinical finish from inside the penalty box and then sprinted through Eisenhower’s defense and chipped junior goalkeeper Chris Lopez to score a screamer.
Eisenhower fought back and a cross from the left found sophomore forward Jamar O’Neil free on the far post to level the score with a well-placed header.
Players of the Match
Chris McMeans
Chris McMeans
Clements’ athletic striker was pivotal for the result, showing his excellent tools to score two very different goals in a matter of minutes. If on the first he benefited from his positioning and finishing skills to put the ball on the back of the net, on the second he displayed impressive technique and vision to chip Lopez from distance. McMeans was also very active in his team’s playmaking, either using his 6’1″ frame to dominate the space and control long balls or attacking the flanks. He missed a good opportunity to score early on and was unlucky to see another of his strikes hit the crossbar with less than two minutes to go.
Kevin Rodriguez
Kevin Rodriguez
A box-to-box midfielder, Rodriguez was very involved in Eisenhower’s game. He circulated the ball well in the middle and did a very good job in combining with the wider players to create plays on offense. He controlled the game in the middle and helped the Eagles overcome Clements’ pressure and break lines with his passing. Rodriguez also displayed good instincts to get into the penalty box and was unlucky to send a header wide.
Rahul Moriarty Rahul Moriarty F TX
Rahul Moriarty Rahul Moriarty F TX
Playing as a deep-lying midfielder, Moriarty did an excellent job in the center of the field for Clements. He moved the ball around well, dictating the tempo, and was always very calm with the ball at his feet, never rushing plays or decisions. Moriarty connected the vast majority of his passes and often found teammates on good spots. His 5’11” frame also helped him win make an impact defensively, winning balls in the air and blocking several Eisenhower’s attempts.
Alex Alfaro
Alex Alfaro
Alfaro displayed great versatility, playing everywhere across Eisenhower’s front line. His mobility and good dribbling ability were big assets for his team as he often used them to disorganize Clements’ backline. He also displayed good understanding of the game and had some interesting combination plays with his teammates. Alfaro was directly involved in the opening goal as Torres got to score off of his shot.
Maesum Brito
Maesum Brito
Brito came off the bench and significantly improved Clements’ offense with his play. Very clean on the ball, he found pockets of space to get on the ball and was able to ignite some interesting plays. He moves really well and has great vision of the game. Brito also made good moves toward the penalty box looking to finish plays and saw a goal disallowed due to an offside near the end.
Ernesto Hernandez
Ernesto Hernandez
Hernandez played an important hybrid role for Eisenhower, covering the left side of the team’s backline while also helping them build from the back. He was extremely solid with his defensive duties, winning most 1v1 duels he was involved with while also making several clearances in the air. Hernandez displayed great understanding of the game too, timing his forward runs very well.
TOMPKINS 3 – 0 GEORGE RANCH
One of the strongest teams in the state, the Tompkins Falcons from Katy had a strong start to their campaign, securing a massive 3-0 win over the George Ranch Longhorns from Richmond on their home turf.
Although both defenses did a good job during the match, the home team didn’t waste time to get the scoreboard going as junior forward Roman Ryabchenko scored the first one within the first few minutes with a right-footed finish from inside the penalty box.
Senior midfielder Jose Ramos took over in the second half and scored twice, first sending George Ranch’s goalkeeper Gregor Jones the wrong way from the penalty spot and then collecting a lose ball in the box to finish with his left foot.
Players of the Match
Jose Ramos
Jose Ramos
Tompkins’ No. 10 was a constant threat during the match, challenging George Ranch’s backline in a variety of ways. More often positioned on the left, he did a great job of bringing the ball inside and combining with his teammates. Ramos also dribbled the ball well and made very good decisions with his passing, helping to create space for the Falcons to attack. He showed great calm and composure to take the penalty kick and good positioning on the box to score the third and last goal.
Gregor Jones
Gregor Jones
Although he conceded three times in the match, Jones was easily one of the best George Ranch players on the field. The goalkeeper made a handful of difficult saves, succeeded on a few 1v1 situations and generated a lot of confidence to the rest of the team. There wasn’t much he could have done on any of the three goals and he used his size really well to collect cross over the penalty box.
Jacob Robisch
Jacob Robisch
Robisch played an excellent match, leading Tompkins’ defensive system and helping interrupt any potentially dangerous offensive plays from George Ranch. The center back displayed great reading of the game to anticipate plays, but also used his physicality to stop them when needed. Robisch made quite a few excellent defensive actions and was also an offensive threat in the air in set pieces.
Tobias Herrera
Tobias Herrera
George Ranch’s dynamic midfielder worked hard on both sides of the ball and managed to make a positive impact on the game with his play. Most of his team’s offensive plays started at Herrera’s feet as his ball distribution was incredibly important for the team to get things going on the offensive half. He also had a few good solo runs upfield and generated space for his teammates with accurate long passes.
Ryan Sharma
Ryan Sharma
Sharma’s relentless work on the right side of the field was of great value for Tompkins. Very active and mobile, he not only kept George Ranch’s left back on his defensive field for the entire match, but also created some dangerous plays by taking the ball to the end line. Sharma also played an important tactical role, tracking back and helping his team defend wide.
Braylon Le Braylon Le F TX
Braylon Le Braylon Le F TX
Le was another one to play a big role in Tompkins’ clean sheet in their opening match in the tournament. Playing at right back, he did outstanding defensive work, defending his area of the field very well and tucking inside when the ball was on the other side to provide additional coverage in the air. Le dominated George Ranch’s forwards that challenged him all night and, although he didn’t push forward a whole lot, he helped the offense with long passes.