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Tempers flare as young Mavericks team falls
Published January 20, 2008
MANVEL — Inexperience and youthfulness got the better of the Manvel Mavericks in their soccer game Saturday morning against the Spring Branch Memorial Mustangs in the Alvin ISD Shootout.
Manvel, playing with a core of juniors and sophomores, could not hold off Spring Branch which easily notched a 4-0 win. The victory solidified Memorial a spot in the tournament finals.
“It was a hard-fought match but I felt they had a bit more experience and they got in our head a little bit,” Manvel coach Daniel Chapa said. “They played physical and our youth showed. We were taunted a little bit and we responded badly. That is something where we are going to have to mature and not respond to stuff like that.”
It took just 30 seconds into the match before Spring Branch struck paydirt. Sophomore forward Keith Tura took the ball right through the teeth of the Maverick defense and sliced it outside to Thomas Morales.
Morales dribbled a few yards into the box before punching the ball back into the middle to Tura who had an easy shot at the net past Cameron Schlegel.
It proved to be the start of a busy first half for Schlegel.
About 10 minutes into the match, Schlegel made a superb stop on an attacking Mustang as he met the kick head-on to prevent a goal.
For the most part, Spring Branch controlled the action in the biting cold at Maverick Field.
Though Manvel did not allow another goal in the first 40 minutes of play, the Mustangs did outshoot them 12-1. The Mavericks’ only shot at goal came on a free kick after the first of several yellow and red cards that would be issued during the match.
Spring Branch connected early in the second half as forward Lincoln Kendall got ahead of the Manvel defense with the ball in tow. Kendall got inside the box before launching one into the back of the net past Schlegel.
Both Kendall and Schlegel met head-on as an altercation broke out between them. Red cards were issued for both and they were thrown out of the game at the 38:16 mark of the second half. Neither player will be allowed to play in their next match.
Down 2-0, Manvel could not penetrate the defense of Spring Branch. Time and time again attempts were turned away by the Mustangs.
The Mavericks gave up the third goal after a penalty on Jose Valdez, who was chopped from behind in the box. William Schroeder made it 3-0 with 20:15 remaining.
With under a minute remaining in the contest, Spring Branch’s Kevin Soto used a 15- to 20-mph wind at his back to fire a free kick from 40 yards out for the final score.
“We have to learn how to control our temper, even when someone is being disrespectful or calling us names,” Chapa said. “I think we can learn from this by ignoring some of those inappropriate things.”
Manvel, now 1-3-1 on the season, will get back into District 23-4A play at 7 p.m. Tuesday as the Mavericks host Columbia.
Joel Luna is the sports editor for The Facts. Contact him at (979) 237-0160.
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