Texas HS Boys – Bridgeland vs. Cypress Springs
The high school season is going at full pace in the state of Texas and thousands of teams are getting on the field each week to compete for the much-coveted spots in the playoffs. Prep Soccer will be following the…
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Continue ReadingThe high school season is going at full pace in the state of Texas and thousands of teams are getting on the field each week to compete for the much-coveted spots in the playoffs.
Prep Soccer will be following the action closely, covering as many matches as possible every week and providing reports featuring the players that had remarkable performances in those encounters. On Tuesday, we were at the Division 6A – Region 2, District 16 duel involving the Bridgeland Bears and the Cypress Springs Panthers in Cypress.
Bridgeland 1 – 0 Cypress Springs
It was a hard-fought match, with both teams looking to score but defenses prevailed over offenses for most of the time. Bridgeland had more control of the game in the first half, with midfielder Eli Hernandez dictating the rhythm of the team. The Panthers pushed forward with more impetus in the second half and looked to connect with senior striker Juan Reyes whenever they had a chance.
The game-winning goal was scored by Bridgeland’s senior striker Jackson Koch, who was fed the ball just outside the penalty box, turned around and fired a low shot that overcame Cypress Springs’ goalkeeper David Padilla 13 minutes before the halftime break.
The Panthers switched to a more aggressive playing style and created some chances, which demanded some important saves from Bridgeland’s senior goalkeeper Johan Osuna. The Bears had a good chance to score the second on a counter-attack, but Padilla was quick to leave his position to stop junior forward Joey Myles.
Bridgeland remain undefeated in district play with three wins and four ties and are currently in third place. Cypress Springs are right behind at fourth, with three wins, three losses and one tie.
Players of the Match
Jackson Koch
Jackson Koch
Bridgeland’s senior striker was a key piece in his team’s victory and that’s not only because he scored the game-winning goal. Koch was the focal of the Bears’ offense all night and displayed a very complete game that helped the team create chances. He was on the end of long passes all night and that was especially important in the second half, when the Bears played long. Koch also fluctuated to the flanks to make combination plays and solo runs toward the penalty box. He also used his ability to shield the ball to run the clock out in the final minutes.
Eli Hernandez
Eli Hernandez
Eliseo ‘Eli’ Hernandez controlled the midfield for Bridgeland against the Panthers and dictated his team’s rhythm with his play. He used his size to win balls and was excellent in possession. Hernandez is really good at operating in tight spaces and he’d often be given the ball under pressure and still find a way to get it to a teammate in a better position. He was great at shielding the ball with his body and making turns to both sides to create space. Hernandez was also very dynamic, covering a lot of ground in the middle and still getting into the attacking third to make passes and finishes.
Johan Osuna
Johan Osuna
Osuna was pretty important for Bridgeland near the end of the match, when he helped his team get away from a strong offensive push made by Cypress Springs. A goalkeeper with great reflexes and excellent mobility, he made some good saves that preserved the Bears’ lead. In the first half, with Bridgeland controlling most of the actions, he had to leave his position to stop some fast breaks and did very well with that. Osuna was also solid with his feet when he was in possession.
Leonardo Marquez
Leonardo Marquez
The Panthers’ captain had a tough battle with Koch and, although Bridgeland’s striker ended up scoring the game-winning goal, Marquez was able to contain him for most of the time. He played in the center of his team’s backline and did an excellent job there, covering his teammates when he had to and chasing attackers near the midfield line when the play asked for it. He was also very clean on the ball, connecting good passes from the back. Marquez was pushed forward to the midfield in the second half and helped the team create some chances from his more advanced position.
Alejandro Cadena
Alejandro Cadena
Cadena formed an interesting duo with Marquez as their play complemented each other’s very well. Extremely clean on the ball, he distributed the game well from the middle and made good plays under pressure. Cadena had an interesting tactical role, dropping into the backline when the Panthers were building from the back and then returning to his midfield position to be more involved with the team’s playmaking. He also had a solid defensive game and was very successful in intercepting long passes.