Sandman

The new Sandman can be found here:

http://www.rgvsports.com/share/profiles/?plckPersonaPage=PersonaBlog&plckUserId=a001bcd4-4d9c-e0f4-151c-a552814c864d&slid=a001bcd4-4d9c-e0f4-151c-a552814c864d&plckScript=personaScript&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckElementId=personaDest

Churchill wins 1-0. Thus ends the Valley soccer season. 

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1-0 Churchill, 4:30 left.

The clock is ticking on the Coyotes, who have resorted to using only three defenders. Despite the attacking formation, LJ hasn’t really threatened the Chargers too much. 

——— 

1-0 Churchill, 13:16 left.

La Joya’s Jose Bocanegra drew a free kick with 14:33 left when he was taken down by Churchill’s Sam Hoy. Hoy was given his second yellow of the night and was sent off. If the Chargers win, Hoy will be suspended for tomorrow’s game. 

——– 

Or not.

With 21:58 left, Churchill’s Nick Cukjati beat LJ keeper Alberto Gutierrez to the goalie’s right. The score, from just outside the 18-yard box, was the culmination of a good run by Matt Ealy, who got the assist.

Now LJ has to generate something, which it hasn’t in the second. 

——– 

0-0, 22:30 left in regulation.

Like I said, this one just seems kind of stuck in the midfield. 

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0-0, 31:50 left in regulation.

This one is starting to feel like it’s headed for a shootout. Just a feeling. 

——- 

0-0, halftime.

With 1:07 left in the half, the Coyotes squandered their best chance when Jose Bocanegra ran in on the Churchill net but stepped on the ball and lost it. 

—— 

0-0, 11 minutes left.

This game has turned for the Chargers. They had the best chance of the match with 11:05 left in the half when Nick Cukjati took control of the ball just outside the 6-yard box. His shot was a weak one and was cleared off the line by La Joya’s Ed Olivarez. 

——– 

0-0, 21 minutes left.

This one’s getting a bit chippy. La Joya’s Salvador Fraure was stepped on by Churchill’s Scott Arters. Fraure then kicked out at Arters as he ran by.

Churchill has been cautioned three times. 

——— 

0-0, 26 minutes left in the first half.

La Joya is controlling this game. Churchill has been pinned near its own goal for much of the half but hasn’t allowed a goal. 

———- 

0-0, 31 minutes left in the first half.

In 10 minutes, we’ve had only one shot on goal. Not too much to report as of right now.

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SAN ANTONIO - The kickoff will be in about five minutes. As usual, this event (like most) is running a bit behind schedule.

SAN ANTONIO - Brownsville Lopez has lost to SA Reagan 3-0 in a shootout. From the second half on, the Rattlers were the better team.

Reagan faces the winner of the La Joya-Churchill game, which is coming in 20 minutes.

SAN ANTONIO - Reagan and Lopez are heading to OT scoreless. More after the game.

SAN ANTONIO - This one is scoreless through 40 minutes. Lopez had the best chance with 11:15 left when senior Edgar Acuna sent a terrific ball to Jorge Cruz, who timed his run perfectly.

His shot wasn’t perfect, and drifted wide to the left.

SAN ANTONIO - As I did for the Harlingen South girls game, I’ll post sporadically (sp?) for the Lopez-Reagan boys game.

SAN ANTONIO - This will be a tough loss to deal with for the District 31-5A champs.

With 4:43 left, Reagan’s Cassedy Christopher’s shot was deflected by the left hand of South’s Kristin Fennegan. The referee promptly gave a penalty, which was converted by the Lady Rattlers’ Sarah Vasquez.

Reagan wins 2-1.

SAN ANTONIO - And this game is tied.

With 33:30 left in the second half, South’s Claudia Torres drew a penalty when she was taken down in the second half by Reagan’s Georgia Mullins. Teammate Sarah Flores then beat the goalie to her left.

Since then, Reagan has controlled play, with numerous chances to retake the lead. The Lady Rattlers’ Alex Burton had an open net but only managed a weak kick from the box, allowing South’s Kristin Fennegan to knock it off the line.

1-1, 24 minutes left in the second.

SAN ANTONIO - Reagan has a 1-0 lead on Harlingen South at halftime. The Lady Rattlers scored their only goal when Erica Carson blooped a seemingly harmless kick towards Lady Hawks goalie Jacqueline Lightner. Unfortunately for the Lady Hawks, Lightner tried to bat it out of play but instead hit it into the net.

The goal is being credited to Carson but, in all honesty, it was an own-goal. Lightner really took the goal hard, kneeling down on the grass with her head in her hands for about 30 seconds. 

In case you’re interested, here’s the game story. 

———- 

MacArthur wins 5-0.

I’ll talk to ya later. 

——– 

MacArthur leads 5-0 with two minutes left.

I have to go down to field level to get quotes, so the last 120 seconds won’t be blogged.

I’ll update as soon as I get back to the computer.

——- 

I think you have to feel at least a little bit bad for EN.

After staying competitive for much of the game, things have gotten out of hand. The Brahmas’ Alanna Padilla easily tapped in a low cross from Candice Yeary to make it 5-0 with 7:46 left.

It was only a matter of time before the Brahmas were going to break out, which they have in the last 15 minutes.  

——— 

Now it’s 4-0 MacArthur.

Anja Rosales scored her second of the day, volleying a cross.

12 minutes to go. 

——– 

Well folks, EN has 15 minutes left of its season.

After a few near-misses, MacArthur’s Jessie Petit took a through ball from Manae Amaro and beat EN goalie Paige Gutierrez low and to the left.

3-0 MacArthur, and that score pretty much reflects the run of play. 

———- 

2-0 MacArthur, 18 minutes left in the game.

Ya gotta wonder what EN forward Katy Lipscomb is thinking right now. She’s been the lone attacker pretty much the whole day and has had to watch much of the game. 

———- 

Now EN is in real trouble.

With 25:26 left, Lauren Rickett took control of a loose ball off a corner and slotted it in the top right corner of the goal.

2-0, and let’s see if EN starts to show some impetus.

——— 

1-0 MacArthur, 37:30 left in the game.

Yep, MacArthur is off. The Brahmas’ Alanna Padilla tapped a great pass to Lauren Rickett, who shot wide to the left. She had Gutierrez beat and should have converted. 

———– 

Just had a conversation with Monitor photog (and temporary roommate) Alex Jones about the game. He pointed out that EN was with the wind and didn’t do much offensively. I think he used the word “squander” in there.

Good point. Now the Cougs will have to score at least once against the wind.

——— 

1-0 MacArthur, halftime.

This game has two extremely contrasting styles at work. EN coach Danny Valdez told me his team would play physically.

He wasn’t lying.

——— 

1-0 MacArthur, 10 minutes left in the first.

Seemingly every possession for MacArthur has the same plot. A Lady Brahma beats a Cougar down the flank, gets the ball into the box and a bunch of MacArthur players dribble around but can’t take a decent shot.

MacArthur is just a bit off kilter. 

——— 

1-0 MacArthur, 15 minutes left in the first.

EN just had its first corner kick of the match, but couldn’t produce a shot on goal. 

——— 

1-0 MacArthur, 20 minutes left in the first

I’d say the ball has been on the Brahmas’ side of the field for about one minute. MacArthur has controlled the ball and, frankly, is unlucky to be up just 1-0. 

——— 

MacArthur is on the board.

With 23:34 left in the first half, the Brahmas’ Brenna Smith’s free kick found the head of Anja Rosales, beating Gutierrez.

1-0 MacArthur. Let’s see if Valdez sends Lipscomb some help. 

——— 

EN is lucky.

After a very nice series of passes, MacArthur’s Lauren Rickett was 1-on-1 with EN goalie Paige Gutierrez. Rickett chose to chip her shot, but flew it over the crossbar.

0-0, 25 minutes left. 

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0-0, 28 minutes left

You know the saying “They parked the bus in front of their goal”? Well, obviously, EN coach Danny Valdez has. He’s using only one player, forward Katy Lipscomb, up front and trying to clog the game.

So far, it’s working. 

——– 

0-0, 33 minutes left

MacArthur has a much larger cheering section, but isn’t nearly as loud. 

——– 

0-0, 37 minutes left

There is a loud and lively EdinbErg North cheering section. The students are standing and chanting.

So far, EN has had no chances.

——— 

I just spoke with La Joya coach Ronny Cabrera and AD Victor Garza. As usual, Mr. Cabrera was in a chipper mood.

We are awaiting kickoff for EdinbErg North and MacArthur. 

——– 

SAN ANTONIO - Hello again everybody.

We are live for SA MacArthur and Edinberg North. (Edinberg? Yep, the program spells it “Edinberg”.)

Anyways, MacArthur is the No. 1 team in SA, at least according to the Express-News. Their coach, Lisa Mazur, said they’re the type of team that doesn’t rely on one player.

We’ll see about that…