Marble Falls boys soccer beats Long Creek

CAPTION: Marble Falls’ Aaron Luna (17) was one of several Mustangs to score during the win against New Braunfels Long Creek. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School boys soccer team shut out New Braunfels Long Creek 3-0 Jan. 30 to earn its first District 26-4A win of the season.

The Mustangs (5-3-4, 1-1) took a 2-0 lead in the first half.

Aaron Luna scored on an assist from Joaquin Aguilar. Aguilar scored a goal thanks to an assist from Will Guzman and Eliezer Chocoj scored on an assist from Ismayl Ismaylov.

“We put the ball in the back of the net and we took some shots,” head coach Ryan Craven said. “We possessed the ball and the defense played really well and smart, too. It was a good team effort.”

The last couple of weeks, Craven has emphasized the need for more accurate shooting and chuckled when asked if saw improvement in that area.

“When you get three goals, you have to be somewhat accurate,” he said. “So that’s a good thing.”

Defensively, it’s hard not to be pleased with a shutout on a defensive effort led by junior goalie Jett Marcum

“I thought Jett made some good decisions,” the coach said. “We had some guys off the bench step up to play defense. I want everybody on the offensive attack. So defensively, it’s we’re pushing forward. And that’s how we basically defend. And then we get it back with numbers transitioning. Our kids did great.”

Craven said the Mustangs “played well” during their 2-1 loss to Wimberley Jan. 28 to start district play. They scored in the opening minute and then had to play a man down for all of the second half and least the last five minutes of the first half.

“And we still possessed the ball the majority of the game,” he said. “We just couldn’t score. We had lots of shots, but they weren’t quality shots because we were missing that extra man. And they’d get some counterattacks on us. And honestly we fell asleep in the first half defensively.”

The Mustangs scoring so early may have impacted much of the contest, he added.

“I think we thought it was going to be a cakewalk, and we kind of let off the gas and as the (head) coach, that’s my fault for not kind of putting the pressure on a little bit more,” Craven said. “I just want to give a shoutout to (assistant coaches David) Griffin and (Roy) Gatlin. They really stepped it up and helped me and our kids by holding our kids accountable. So a team effort from the coaching staff all the way to the players.” 

Marble Falls enters a bye Tuesday, Feb. 3, then travels to play at San Antonio Davenport Friday, Feb. 6, with junior varsity B playing at 4:15 p.m., junior varsity A at 5:30 p.m., and the varsity at 7:15 p.m.

“Our guys were hungry,” Craven said. “They knew we couldn’t afford to drop another one. Our guys have been in these situations before. Our team hasn’t had back-to-back losses in I don’t know how long.”

CAPTION: Daniel Dominguez (left) challenges for the ball late in the second half. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro