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Elgin’s varsity soccer programs tasted victory last week as district play began.
The girls and the boys teams each went 1-1 in their matchups versus the East View Patriots and Pflugerville Connally Cougars, proving they have what it takes to compete in a district loaded with talented teams. The Lady Wildcats have a 6-3-1 overall record and the boys are 5-3-2.
On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the Elgin boys traveled to face East View. The Wildcats found themselves in a hole early, as the Patriots scored just five minutes into the contest. The Wildcats would eventually even the score at 1-1 before halftime thanks to a crucial goal by sophomore Jose Ferrusca.
Both defenses held strong to open the second half. However, Guillermo Hernandez finally gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game, converting a beautifully placed shot towards the left corner of the goal post from the 25-yard line.
Elgin continued to play solid defense down the stretch to secure a 2-1 victory. Hernandez’ goal was his ninth of the season which leads the team.
On the same night, the Lady Wildcats hosted a strong East View team. Elgin faced a 2-0 deficit as the first half expired. The Lady Patriots kept their foot on the gas pedal and remained in control throughout the second half.
The dynamic sophomore duo of Dory Estrada and Kailyn Cook connected for a much needed goal, providing a spark of momentum for the home team. Estrada was credited with the assist, and Cook cashed in the goal. Ultimately, the Lady Wildcats couldn’t match East View’s offensive firepower and lost 5-1.
On Jan. 27, the boys were at home against Pflugerville Connally. The Elgin defense was on its heels throughout the majority of the contest due to the Cougars’ relentless, high-attacking pressure. A successful penalty kick gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead at the break.
The Wildcats couldn’t quite find their groove offensively, especially since the Cougars held onto the ball for long possessions. Pflugerville Connally extended their lead to 2-0 about midway through the second half. According to Elgin coach Eduardo Lerma, a lack of communication led to the Cougars’ second goal.
Elgin goalkeeper David Macedo played like a man possessed to keep the Wildcats in the game. Macedo tallied six saves, including an impressive diving save which prevented a 3-0 deficit.
The Elgin offense started to click towards the end of game, establishing longer possessions and firing a number of on-target shots. Several gorgeous passes by Anthony Jones on free kicks led to near goals, but the Wildcats couldn’t cash in. The Cougars hung on to win 2-0.
The girls looked to bounce back in their away matchup versus the Lady Cougars. Once again, the Estrada-Cook show came up clutch for the Lady Wildcats. Cook delivered a beautiful assist, and Estrada booted in the go-ahead goal, giving Elgin a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
The Elgin defense rose to the occasion in the second half. Defenders such as Isabela Estrada, Tory McDonald and Joy Segura did a commendable job to keep the Lady Cougars off the board. The Lady Wildcats prevailed to win 1-0.
District competition will continue to ramp up this week. The Elgin squads face Georgetown on Tuesday, Jan. 31, and Cedar Creek on Friday, Feb. 3.
