TEXARKANA, Texas -- Texas High Tiger boys junior varsity soccer team opened the season with a win over the Carthage Bulldogs in their first match of the season Friday afternoon. Both junior varsity and varsity matches had afternoon starting times due to the school district's holiday break.
The Tigers started the scoring on a goal by Kason Oregon in the eighth minute of the match. This was followed by three goals by Angel Ramirez in the 20th, 27th, and 30th minutes of the match. Following Ramirez' hat trick the Bulldogs got on the scoresheet just before halftime with a goal in the 32nd minute. The Tigers took at 4-1 lead into the intermission.
After halftime the Bulldogs staged a comeback attempt with goals in the 38th and 42nd minutes of the match bringing them to within 1 goal of the Tigers at 4-3. The Tigers were awarded a penalty kick in the 52nd minute that Oregon converted giving him a brace to go along with Ramirez' hat trick. This goal would prove decisive in the match.
With moments left to play the Bulldogs scored bringing the score to 5-4. Despite a frenzied effort from Carthage the Tigers held on for the 5-4 victory.
Tiger Coach Zak McCarthy was proud of the effort from his team.
The team has "been waiting a long time to start their season," he said. "We saw a lot of freshmen get their first high school (appearances)."
McCarthy pointed out that he was looking forward to watching his team grow. Despite scoring five goals in this match, he expressed the need for improvement.
" We allowed the other team to gain momentum and score four goals," he said. "These were huge lessons in how quickly a game can change. We need discipline and focus because the score does not reflect our dominance."