TEXARKANA, Texas -- The Texas High Boys soccer team roared into this year's season with a 5-3 victory over the Sabine Cardinals at Grim Stadium in a non-district match held on the first day allowed for matches by the University Interscholastic League, the governing body for high school sports in Texas.
Tiger Coach Zak McCarthy was very pleased with the play of his team and their progress during the offseason.
"At times we played absolutely amazing soccer and showed how far we've come," he said.
The Tigers started the match strong with two goals in the first five minutes. Newcomer Sam Tettamanti scored the first goal off a an assist from Anderson Escobar in the second minute. Senior Austin Miller doubled the advantage for the Tigers in the fifth minute on a pass from Alijah Garza. The Cardinals took advantage of a free kick against the Tigers when Sabine co-captain Cam Childress scored at seven-minute Mark.
The score remained 2-1 for the remainder of the half.
The second half started with intensity on both sides that bubbled over with the first of several bookings. The first was at the 48th minute with a yellow card against a Cardinal player. The Cardinals overcame the card and Sabine's other co-captain Oscar Gonzales scored their second goal on a corner kick, knotting the game 2-2.
The rough play and intensity continued after the goal eventually leading to the Cardinal's second booking, this time a red card in the 51st minute. (Under the rules of the game this ejection resulted in the Cardinals playing the remainder of the match a player short.) The next booking of the match came in the 58th minute when Texas High's Aidyn Bennett was handed a yellow card.
Tettamanti scored his second goal (assisted by Garza) a minute later putting the Tigers up 3 to 2. The match was then leveled at 3 each when the Cardinals got past the defense on a break away, Sabine striker Jose Lopez took a shot attempting to get past Tiger keeper Mat Delk who deflected the ball. But an awkward spin on the shot overcame the save and ended up in the net.
The Cardinal elation lasted just at short while, as Texas High's Bladamir Lopez sent a well-placed pass to Vincente Jaralillo who put it in the back of the net in the 75th minute. The Tiger fifth goal came in the 78th minute when Jaralillo sent a pass to Miller for the final goal in match.
McCarthy praised his team for "sticking together in difficult moments" and "learning to trust themselves ... to overcome adversity." He also had high praise for the "players who came off the bench with fantastic attitudes ... and made positive impacts."
McCarthy also indicated there was much room for improvement.
"We made some basic errors and allowed the other team to gain some momentum," he said.
Those are areas he intends to work on in upcoming training.
McCarthy saved his most lavish praise for the large group of supporters at the match (estimated at more than 230 spectators).
"It makes a huge difference when the fans are pouring (their support) into the guys and cheering for them for 80 minutes."
The Tiger season continues with matches this week in Bonham, Texas, on Tuesday, and back home to Grim Stadium on Friday.
Austin Miller and Jackson Haltom (No. 4) celebrate a Tiger Soccer goal. (Photo courtesy of (www.BillMiller-Photo.com)
Anderson Escobar passes over a Sabine defender towards goal. (Photo courtesy of www.BillMiller-Photo.com)
Jo Jo Minor battles for the ball against a Sabine midfielder. (Photo courtesy of www.BillMiller-Photo.com)
Sam Tettamanti charging toward the Sabine goal. (Photo courtesy of www.BillMiller-Photo.com)
Austin Miller (No. 22) handles the ball against Sabine defender. (Photo courtesy of www.BillMiller-Photo.com)
Texas High's Sam Tettamanti and Alijah Garza battle against Sabine defenders. (Photo courtesy of www.BillMiller-Photo.com)
Alijah Garza, Austin Miller, Diego Perez, Frank Delk, Michael Bradshaw and Seth Trusty celebrate a Tiger Soccer goal. (Photo courtesy of www.BillMiller-Photo.com)