Farmersville’s Gael Mendoza attempts to kick the ball over the Sanger goalkeeper Saturday at Farmers Stadium. Photo by David Wolman / C&S Media
By David Wolman
With Farmersville’s boys soccer team involved in a three-team battle with Celina and Aubrey for the final playoff spot in District 11-4A and only two weeks remaining in the regular season, Farmers head coach Barrett Clark said earning as many points as possible will be crucial and could determine if his squad qualifies for the postseason for the second consecutive season.
Although Farmersville needed to earn a point past a shootout to secure the win, the additional point the Farmers earned by winning in penalty kicks was a big one and could be crucial to their chances of making the playoffs — especially after Farmersville lost three days earlier in a shootout to Aubrey. The Chaparrals outlasted the Farmers 4-3 in penalty kicks after the two teams played to a 0-0 draw in regulation.
“Two points is good,” Clark said. “It’s going to be close. Us three are going to be within two or three points of each other in the end.”
Saturday’s result could have been worse for the Farmers. Had it not been for timely saves by goalkeeper Markus Estala, it very well could have resulted in a loss for Farmersville. Estala made a save on a breakaway attempt by Sanger in a tie game with five minutes remaining in regulation. Then, in the shootout, he dove to his right and made a save on the Indians’ first attempt.
Farmersville went a perfect 4-for-4 in the shootout. Felix Maldonado, Jairo Acosta, Juan Vargas and Daniel Mendoza scored, and the Farmers won after the Indians’ fifth attempt hit the crossbar.
“We were taking PKs in practice Friday, and Markus was saving every one of them,” Clark said. “That was a great read on their first attempt today.”
Farmersville opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Maldonado dribbled the ball down the right side of the field and kicked it just out of the reach of the Sanger goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead.
Sanger tied the score at 1-1 in the 24th minute. A long free kick landed at the feet of an unmarked forward on the left side of the field, and the Indians one-timed the ball into the back of the net for a goal.
Farmersville was the more energized team in the second half and nearly retook the lead several times, but the Farmers couldn’t convert on several corner kicks, including one that bounced off the inside of the crossbar.
“We had three corner kicks, put heads on them, hit a post, had a free kick in which their keeper had his body in the goal but had his hand on it,” Clark said. “We played hard. Our district is really good.”
Meanwhile, the playoff chances for the Lady Farmers took a big hit after three straight losses to Gainesville, Frisco Panther Creek and Aubrey.
So winning every match is a must for Farmersville to keep its playoff chances alive.
Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Sanger proved to be a good start in the right direction.
After being held without a goal in each of their two previous games, the Lady Farmers needed just three minutes to get on the board Saturday.
Senior Natalie Taylor received a diagonal pass and ripped a shot past the Sanger goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead.
Junior Syah Surles made it 2-0 Farmersville with a goal later in the match.
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