Burnet boys soccer beats Travis
CAPTION: Marco Campos-Huerta’s powerful leg ensures the Bulldogs are never completely out of a match. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
The Burnet High School boys soccer team defeated Austin Travis 4-1 Feb. 24 and lost to Jarrell 3-1 Feb. 27.
The Bulldogs (4-11-3, 3-5-2) got two goals from Jose Rios Rodriguez with one coming off a ricochet and the other on an assist from Ricardo Flores.
Marco Campos-Huerta scored on a free kick and Alfredo Jaramillo Gonzalez had the final goal thanks to an assist from Campos-Huerta.
Rodriguez’s first goal came five minutes into the match.
“They had a taste early,” head coach Benjamin Boorman said. “That just invigorated the boys, that made them excited, and they just had a great deal of belief in that game.”
He called Rodriguez’s performance “one of the big surprises.”
“We’ve been moving people around every week, and Jose is normally playing on the right side,” the coach said. “He had to move over to the left side and by doing that, that opened up his right foot, and he scored two goals. I think that sometimes out of adversity, you find hidden gems you didn’t know were there and belief in players that don’t normally get a chance. It was really nice.”
He was equally pleased with the defense.
“We played really organized,” Boorman said. “It was the best defensive shape I’ve seen all season.”
He pointed out the Bulldogs matched up well with the Rebels.
“We were able to muscle them up and were able to get fast breaks, and so that just re-instills belief,” the coach said. “It’s hard when the other teams are finding ways to beat you one on one, either by force or by skill. It forces you to get back and get two guys on one instead of one on one.”
Rodriguez had the only goal against Jarrell with an assist from Nathan Burdell.
“Jarrell came out, and they were on a mission,” Boorman said. “They were playing really hard. We did get the first goal, we went up 1-0, and the boys were excited about it and we pushed forward.”
The Cougars answered two minutes later,
“And it just didn’t look like they were going to be phased,” the coach said. “It ended up being a fast break goal for the second goal and the third goal was a 35-yard free kick that hit our goalkeeper’s chest, he bobbled it out of his hand and went backwards into the goal.”
That final goal was scored in the second half with about 20 minutes left in the match.
“It kind of just deflated us,” Boorman said. “It was just Jarrell’s night and in the end, I gotta give it to them. They have a heap of good players, who are very tough matchups. They’re well coached, too, and I really have high hopes for them this season. They’ve struggled for so long, and for them to have the success – their boys are excited.”
Burnet travels to play Austin Northeast Tuesday, March 3, with the junior varsity playing at 6 p.m. and the varsity at 7:30 p.m. at Nelson Field. Then the junior varsity plays at Liberty Hill at 4 p.m. Friday, March 6.
The final home of the year is against Austin LBJ Tuesday, March 6, with the junior varsity playing at 6 p.m. and the varsity at 7:30 p.m.
