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Boys soccer: Record-setting match propels Chaps into regional tournament
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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Dillon Short set a new school scoring record as Westlake (17-5-2) reached the Class 5A Region IV tournament with a resounding 4-1 win over San Antonio Taft in Tuesday’s regional quarterfinals at Hays High School.
Short had two goals in the match, which gives him a single-season record of 25 goals. Davey Lozano held the previous mark of 24.
Walker Hume and Tucker Hume also scored for the Chap boys, who will join the Westlake girls soccer team at this weekend’s regional tournament at Blossom Athletic Center in San Antonio.
So, Westlake wins a tougher match against Laredo United than the New Braunfels/Warren/Taft games presented. United was much quicker/faster than previous teams, but our heroic mid-field and defenders held up nicely.
Another spectacular game from GK Dylan Shomaker. It must be very depressing to be behind and play against him, knowing that even if you beat the defense, you must still conjure a way of getting the ball past him – it just doesn’t happen very often.
A beautiful free kick from Bailey Hinners led to an even more beautiful header from Walker Hume, perfectly arced high and deep just under the crossbar, far post. Their GK had no chance (although, Shomaker would have probably got close.) The Hume twins must’ve set some HS record for “Headers won” this season – they win almost every ball coming their way, many resulting in quality scoring chances or retained possession.
Many United attacks were repelled by stout defending, especially the many balls and headers headers won by Sweeper Steven Duever, very tough outside play from Ryan Melde and Jason Ahuja & midfield play by David Lukert, Bailey Hinners and the Hume boys Walker and Tucker. All of these players had to adjust to getting chipped from behind on almost every touch, with a referee who apparently lost interest in the future of our boys ‘ankles and knees.
Ultimately, Dillon Short did, again, what he does best, by beating the last man and somehow managing to get the ball by the GK, with less than 2 minutes left to seal the deal.
Interesting side note, Thomas Haws, Bailey Hinners, Dillon Short & Dylan Shomaker all stood in Frisco, TX at 2pm that same afternoon, all exhausted from playing overtime games at Dallas Cup. Thanks to the overtime/shootout outcome of the Clark/Sharyland game, Hinners, Short & Shomaker all made it to Blossom prior to the game, & Haws arrived about 25 minutes into the 1st half. Haws literally got out of his dad’s car and went straight to the mid-line to request a Hall Pass to enter the game. All would have missed an on-time start.
Even though Short/Hinners/Haws had clearly lost a step compared to previous recent HS playoff efforts, due to shear physical exhaustion and the 5 hr drive immediately preceding the game, each was key to helping WHS beat a solid United team and advance to the Regional Final.
With fresh legs on Sat., here’s betting we see a more energetic effort from those guys and a great performance from the entire squad against Clark on Sat.
2nd interesting side note: All four players had made the same journey from Dallas, after playing a club soccer game, on Tues., to help WHS beat Taft at Hays – the only difference being that after that Taft victory, they all drove back to Dallas, arriving at 1:30am, for another Dallas Cup game on Wed. morning. Oh, the things we soccer parents do – amazing! Those guys have all played 6 games thus far this week, with one to go, 4 Dallas Cup games and 3 HS playoff games. There may be a parenting ordinance violation in all of this, but these players wouldn’t complain for a second.
3rd note: playing for Clark in that Final will be #7 Oscar Barboza, a teammate of Short, Shomaker, & Hinners on their Lonestar club team.
Anybody else see a problem with playing for a club team the same day that your alma mater is competing for a chance to go to state? I know it turned out okay, but I see a problem here.
Congrats to the Chaps! Seal the deal at state and keep making us proud!
Do I see a problem? Heck yes.
Do I see a solution? Heck no.
Dallas Cup is an international tournament that draws hundreds of college coaches & most of these club guys are trying to get to college via soccer. They also play for club coaches who will bench them if they don’t show up for these Dallas Cup games, if not removing them from the team entirely.
As important as these high school Regional games are (as all high school playoff games are, it’s “lose one and done”) there was likely not a single college coach present. That’s not how it works in this sport. Yet the boys all play high school to help their schools with their evolved skills. They really enjoy playing high school soccer – probably more than club soccer, but their bread is buttered by club, so it’s a tough standoff. There are club programs that prohibit high school soccer, but that’s not the case in Austin – yet.
Fortunately, these conflicts only happen, generally, one week a year. Unfortunately, it’s almost always during high school playoffs.