Texas HS Boys: Lamar vs. Bellaire

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>District play is completed in some districts in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) high school soccer season in Texas and the playoffs are starting to take shape in the Lone Star State. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Soccer will be following several of the matches taking place in the Houston area and reporting on them, highlighting the Top Performers and sharing photos of the encounters. On Friday, March 8, we went to Delmar Stadium, in Houston, to follow the last match of District 18, reuniting the Lamar Texans and the Bellaire Cardinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/03/texas-hs-girls-seven-lakes-vs-jordan-photos/">Lamar vs. Bel</a><a href="https://prepsoccer.com/2024/03/texas-hs-boys-lamar-vs-bellaire-photos/">laire - Photos</a></strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Texans entered the match with the district title already guaranteed and determined to complete district play undefeated, but the Cardinals had other plans and secured a 1-0 win with a goal scored by senior Edwin Diaz in the second half. Bellaire will also appear in the playoffs after finishing third in the district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/grtorres/status/1766285399960191297?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/grtorres/status/1766285399960191297?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were some of the individual standouts in the match:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Hayden Musser","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bellaire","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Rise SC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Lamar's offense was shut down for just the second time in district play and Musser's strong performance was one of the main reasons for it. Playing as a right-sided center back, he was very solid with his defensive duties, doing a good job of keeping the ball and opposing attackers away from the penalty box. A very physical player, Musser was dominant in the air and also won several duels against Lamar's attackers, operating well outside the penalty box too. He was also very involved in the team's buildup, finding some interesting long passes out of the back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ebf11b1617d"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":166357,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/IMG_2691.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-166357" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lamar vs. Bellaire</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Andres Garza","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bellaire","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Rise SC","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Garza played with great energy in his defensive midfielder position and covered a lot of ground for the Cardinals. He was very active defensively, using his physical tools to shield the team's backline and win possession. The midfielder also knew what to do when he had possession, getting out of pressure with quick, one-time passes, and playing long balls to the attackers when we had space to operate. Garza also had some good runs down the middle, using his pace and physical strength to shield the ball and progress.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ebf11b16216"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":166356,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/IMG_2683.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-166356" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lamar vs. Bellaire</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Carlos Jasso","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bellaire","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of Bellaire's most dangerous attacking players, Jasso was very difficult to defend during the entire match. Very quick and technical, he had good success beating opposing defenders off the dribble and had some dangerous runs. Jasso played more to the left in the first half and managed to take the ball to the end line a few times. He moved to the center in the second half and became even more dangerous, playing closer to the goal. Jasso also proved to be an intelligent player, finding good passes and making good decisions in transition.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ebf11b162a6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Edwin Diaz","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"102","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bellaire","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Diaz scored the game-winning goal for Bellaire with a beautiful shot from outside the penalty box at the start of the second half. The goal marked the peak of his performance, which improved a lot after the first 40 minutes. Diaz played in the right side of Bellaire's midfield in the first half and was somewhat discrete, but did much better in the second half, playing on the left and combining with outside back [player_tooltip player_id='90330' first='Sayf' last='Elkousy']. The technical midfielder was very good at using his body to shield the ball when getting passes from the backline and making turns to bring the ball inside from the left to make plays.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ebf11b1632e"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":166375,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/IMG_2720.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-166375" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lamar vs. Bellaire</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alexis Muniz","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lamar","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"HTX","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Muniz had a very strong display for Lamar, especially in the first half, when he created most of the team's attacking plays. The left back showed great quality on the ball and a handful of offensive weapons in his arsenal, at times beating defenders off the dribble to get the end line, and on other occasions bringing the ball inside. He also connected some good long passes out of the back and was very difficult to get by on defense, winning the vast majority of the duels he was involved with. Muniz left the game during the second half due to an injury and his absence weakened Lamar's offense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ebf11b163bb"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":166369,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/IMG_2708.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-166369" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lamar vs. Bellaire</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["150538"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Reese did a solid job in front of Lamar's backline, playing with good energy and intensity. He was very effective defensively, timing his tackles very well, playing hard and covering a lot of ground in his defensive midfield position. The junior was also very effective at turning defense into offense, connecting passes quickly after he regained possession to initiate transition plays. Reese's presence on the field allowed Lamar to send both outside backs forward at the same time when they were trailing as he kept things under control defensively with his ability to cover ground and disrupt plays.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ebf11b16416"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":166376,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/IMG_2729.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-166376" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lamar vs. Bellaire</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["15940"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Delph was Lamar's most dangerous offensive player and was involved in most of the team's successful attacking plays. A lefty, he spent the first half on the left and was very good at using his pace and dribbling to beat defenders and take the ball to the end line. In the second half, he moved to the right and was even more dangerous, often beating defenders in 1v1 situations and bringing the ball inside to finish. He fired some nice shots in the second half, including a first-time one that went just a few inches over the crossbar.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ebf11b16467"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"id":166380,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/IMG_2740.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-166380" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lamar vs. Bellaire</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->