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The Cedar Creek Eagles overcame a shaky start to pick up a pivotal win over the visiting Hendrickson Hawks.
With the win, the Eagles shot up to the fifth seed in district standings with a 3-4-1 record. They’re just one game back from the East View Patriots for the fourth and final playoff spot.
The Hawks struck first in the Friday, Dec. 17, matchup and looked like the sharper team early in the first half. The Eagles would respond in a major way, though. Alexis DeNova-Jaimes evened the score at 1-1 by cashing in a goal at the 25-minute mark.
Cedar Creek took advantage of the momentum swing, attacking on offense while playing stingy defense. Players like Manny Carreno Medina and Juan Guerrero Perez nearly scored on numerous occasions, and taking a lead appeared imminent for the home team. Yet, the score remained tied at the break.
Goalkeeper Alexis Tinajero Vences made a crucial save on a penalty kick early in the second half to avoid falling behind. The Eagles then began displaying dominant ball-control. After knocking on the door for an extended period, Cedar Creek finally broke through with the go-ahead goal. Medina found DeNova-Jaimes slashing up the middle and delivered the pass perfectly in stride for the score.
The Eagles kept their foot on the gas pedal. Perez extended their lead to 3-1, finding the back of the net with just over 20 minutes left to play. Later in the half, fellow goalkeeper Eduardo Macedo came up with another clutch save on a penalty kick, and the home team maintained a comfortable lead.
The Hawks picked up the intensity towards the end, but the Eagles remained sharp on both ends of the field to secure a 3-1 victory. Vences recorded an impressive six saves, and Medina was credited with two assists.
Cedar Creek has an opportunity to put themselves in playoff position this week, facing off against East View (Feb. 21) and Pflugerville Connally (Feb. 24). With the season winding down, each game’s importance becomes greater.
