Boys Soccer Beat Salado, 2-1 for Biggest Win in Hawk History

Trenton Lorett in a battle for a Hawk Win over Salado, 2-1        (photo Lynne Carpenter)

It was not an April Fool’s Win for CL Hawks Boys Soccer after taking the second round game from 4th Ranked Salado at Manor High School last Friday night, 2-1.

This was by far the biggest win in any sport up to this point in Hawk history as the Boy’s Soccer team is only in their second year of qualifying for the playoffs and after drawing a bye for the first round would then have to lock horns with the State Ranked Salado Eagles.

How good was Salado? Their 2 losses coming into this contest was against a 6A Harker Heights school and an undefeated private school called KIPP Austin.

          Dog Pile, Hawks Win!!!

That record will now go into Salado’s record books as a 22-3 team with many skins on their wall. But CL’s logo will not be one of those conquests.

The last time The ReSporter had an article for the Boys Soccer was after a disappointing Fredericksburg game and loss. That was one of 2 games that the Hawks had lost by more than 1 goal.

Listening to the after game talk, you could tell that Head Coach Warren Graham was not a very happy camper.

But that game did give the Hawks a chance to play a team with some speed which might have helped in going against Salado next.

“I think so,” Head Coach Warren Graham contemplated. “Speed wise Fredericksburg might be faster but skill wise it would go to Salado…..both teams play the same formation and so we had seen it four times already.”

District 27-4A had a sparkling, 3-1 slate after the 2nd round of play, with Fredericksburg falling to CL’s next opponent, Gonzales in double overtime.

Canyon Lake joined Bandera and Boerne as district victors and that feat would be against teams that had already won their first round games. In other words, no gimmies as there are very few 3rd & 4th seeds still playing.

“This was our best game of the year,” Coach Graham said with his understatement. “We dominated the possessions and they had a hard time getting off their passes.”

“We have the hardest district in the State,” Graham assessed.

Canyon Lake had a goal called back because of an off-side which allowed Salado to draw first blood when they scored 20 minutes into the contest.

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid
of Michael Carpenter’s kicks

The Hawks had multiple chances but the Eagles were up to the task with some good savers. Grayson Rohrbacher scored the Hawks tying score going right over the goal and that would be Salado’s last lead for this game.

“Our fans were vocal,” Coach Graham recalled. “They were cheering like crazy!”

Canyon Lake had started this playoff day after seeing the Hawk Ladies go down to Salado in the first tilt…so, having this game go in favor of this hard working crew was cause for the boisterous celebrating.

With the boys team being there for the Hawk Ladies game would lend for an opportunity to see how the Eagles might play the Boys for the next affair.

Salado’s Coach is on the sideline for both girls and boys and that will give you an idea of a coach’s techniques when the game is in action.

“They take their corner plays with two guys on the ball and then can go short or long,” Coach Graham recounted on how the boys could see how their next game would played by the Salado Boys.

CL is On-Point for Hawk Soccer, Beat Gonzales

The defense for both clubs was able to shut down the scoring when the 2nd half begin with a tied score.

Then the game would get interesting as the clock was ticking down to the 2 minute mark. Nash Young went down the right side and his kick hit the post then the ground for what would be the winning goal.

Canyon Lake was up 2-1 and went into a prevent as the Hawks would kick the ball as far as they could when they had a chance.

That would stand up until those final seconds when Brayden Damico made the save of the year with just 5 seconds left with a crucial save that preserved the Hawk victory.

Jordan Sczech had both assists as the Hawks (16-5-2) will now face Gonzales this coming Tuesday in Yoakum starting at 7:00 pm.

Jellystone Park says Go Hawks, Beat Gonzales

On how he talked with the the team before taking the field, Coach Graham said. “They were 8-0 against common opponents and that can scare you….but I told them (the Hawks) that their, 22-2 record was just a number and then I said to forget the record and just play.”

On what the team bus was like on the way home? “It was lively,” Graham said. “I allowed them to use the speaker.”

Both teams (Gonzales & Hawks) had grueling contests and will certainly enjoy a little time off this week-end.

“The week-end will help,” Coach Graham closed. “We should have no problems with being ready for our Monday practice….we have had some big goals and getting to the Tuesday game was one of those goals with the other one being able to play in the Regional Tourney next week.”

Congratulations Hawks and now make your next goal in the Net.

Go Hawks!!