Sports
Tigers win another district championship
Tuesday, 10 April 2012 by David Tuma
Luke Villamaria turns to strike a crossing pass in front of Bryan’s goal in the Tigers dominating 4-0 win over Bryan at home. The Tigers controlled the game from start to finish. Photo by David TumaBelton crushed Bryan in a poorly officiated game at Wilson-Kirzee by an official that in the past is no stranger to controversy in Belton. The Tigers dominated the match but were shown card after card as Bryan was unable to matchup and got physical with the game out of reach.
It was a complete game for the Tigers who stopped everything on defense only giving up a couple of decent chances, dominated in the midfield and beat one of the best Viking teams in years 4-0, in a road game, in Belton. Belton has been without their anchor on defense and key player on defense for the second half of district but Friday night Logan Hellinghausen returned for a good portion of the game.
Luke Villamaria and Cameron Cooper hit crossing passes early against Bryan, Timothy Williams added a steal and Cesar Cruz set up Cooper at 29:58. Cooper had a shot blocked and Villamaria scored off the rebound to make it 1-0 with 24:38 left. Cruz, Villamaia and Cooper added shots in close as the Tigers with 11-minutes left before half had yet to give up a clean shot on goal.
Williams set up a corner kick that was headed by Ryan Parker to make it 2-0 with 5:06 left in the first half. Villamaria set up Parker with a well-struck kick. Jorge Marquez almost scored before half as the Tigers defenders moved to midfield as the half ended with the Tigers in total control up 2-0.
Cooper and Villamaria had crossing shots to start the second half. Cooper set up a free kick that ended up being converted by Logan Hellinghausen to put the game away 3-0 with 32:01 left. "I got to play on the outside. I am feeling better but not where I was in terms of conditioning. We beat them to the ball tonight," said Hellinghausen.
Jorge Guzman set up Angel Hernandez who's shot was just over the bar. Alvaro Martinez had a steal at midfield. Carlo Mosnia had his first big save of the game with 19 minutes left. Hernandez's header was just over the bar.
With the game almost over and Bryan getting dominated Belton was called for two yellow cards and a devastating red card. Hernandez was on the receiving end of a hard hit where the ball wasn't touched, it was a hit on Hernandez that wasn't called, and when Hernandez pushed back he was quickly given a red card. His brother Jonathan was once given a card when he had the ball driving to a goal by the same referee, so it runs in the family.
Hernandez, the Tigers top midfielder and one of the best athletes on the team was missing in a 1-0 loss on the road at A&M Consolidated.
With only 10 players the Tigers still controlled the game and the tempo and Barnes scored to make it 4-0. Belton ended the regular season as district champions for the fifth time in six season with a 18-4-1 record.
"Defensively having Logan Hellinghausen back was good for us. They kids played well. Luke Villamaria is having a great season. This was a complete game against a great team," said Tigers head coach Chiso Mosnia.
Brady Reynolds, Jorge Marquez, Luke Villamaria, Logan Hellinghausen and Adam Barnes were named by the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches Academic All-State.
