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Although the final score was even, the Elgin Wildcats appeared firmly in control throughout the majority of their Dec. 5 contest against the Hutto Hippos.
The Wildcats are now 0-1-1 and their season will begin ramping up this week.
In the final minutes of the game, Elgin had several good looks at the net. A corner kick by Guillermo Hernandez resulted in a flurry of shots in traffic, all of which were deflected. Dylan Zamarron and Jose Ferrusca nearly scored at the very end to secure a dramatic victory, but Hutto’s defense hung tough, resulting in a final score of 2-2.
The Hippos struck first nearly ten minutes into play. However, the Wildcats responded and began raising their intensity on both sides of the field. Elgin’s defense forced quick turnovers and prevented the Hippos from establishing any sort of rhythm.
Offensively, the Wildcats were sharp with their execution. Hernandez used his speed to lead a fast-paced attack. Players were precise, accurate, and decisive with their passing, which led to a number of open shot attempts. After knocking at the door for a good chunk of the first half, Hernandez finally found the back of the net to tie the score at 1-1.
Zamarron and Uriel Cienfuegos had a chance to extend the Wildcats’ lead, as they both attempted open shots on target. Hutto’s goalie made several impressive saves, though, keeping the score nodded up at the break.
The second half was a similar story. The Hippos scored right away, but then Elgin got back to possessing the ball for long stretches while limiting Hutto’s shot attempts. Hernandez scored again on a penalty kick with roughly 32 minutes left to play, and the score was 2-2.
The Hippos attempted multiple penalty kicks of their own towards the end of the game. The Wildcat defense clamped down, however, and kept the ball out of their net. Goalkeeper David Macedo made an especially nice save at the 20-minute mark in the second half.
Despite the tie, the Wildcats certainly played well enough to win and should be optimistic about the rest of the 2023 season.
Elgin will travel to face Bellville on Tuesday, Dec. 10 before competing in tournament action later in the week.
