This past weekend, the boys soccer team competed in the first official games of the season. The team made the trip down south to play in the Georgetown tournament.
“The games went really well,” senior center midfielder Hunter Reck said. “We played pretty well and got to see what we needed to work on before district starts.”
The team’s first game was against the Anderson Trojans. The leopards concluded the game in a 1-1 tie.
“In our first game, we had to deal with a tough team that had a great attack,” senior goalie Noah Nguyen said. “After going down a goal early on, we had to pump the team back up to get the tie.”
The Leander Lions were up next for the team; this game also ended in a 1-1 tie.
“The team overall achieved our objective of the trip,” head coach Alex Duran said. The team bonding and finding a rhythm will lead us into district well.”
The third and final clash was against Southwest Legacy where the team delivered a 4-0 shutout victory.
“The best game this weekend was against Southwest Legacy because we played more as a team,” Reck said. “We were able to combine with each other and put the ball in the back of the net while keeping a shutout.”
The tournament gave the leopards their first taste of competition this season before the district season approaches in a couple of weeks.
“This weekend helped us measure out our strengths and weaknesses so we can figure out what we need to work on before district play,” Nguyen said. “Going undefeated also helped us gain some momentum as we start the season soon.”
The team will take part in another three-day tournament this weekend starting Thursday and ending on Saturday. The team is scheduled to play South Garland, North Forney, and Turner at the Allen tournament.
“I’m most excited for this year because of all the time I will get to spend with my friends,” Reck said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how far we can make it in the playoffs this year because we have been working hard in the offseason.”
Last year’s squad ended the season 9-12-1 with a first-round exit in the playoffs. With a lot of experienced players returning, the team has high aspirations for what’s to come.
“We always set our goals high; this season is no different,” Duran said. “We have the talent to earn a district title and do a little dancing in the playoffs. We have the confidence needed to achieve our objectives as a team and are prepared to do the work.”
