Sports
Tigers fall just short in second round of playoffs
Sunday, 29 April 2012 by David Tuma
Adam Barnes scores on a header off a free kick struck by Cameron Cooper to give the Tigers a 1-0 second half lead against #6 nationally ranked Dallas Jesuit. After loosing two of the best pair of forwards in the past 15-years last season to graduation, the Tigers simply reloaded in 2012. Belton (19-5-1) lost 2-1 against Dallas Jesuit a private school from Dallas that is currently ranked #6 nationally by ESPN Rise.
The teams were evenly matched and Belton held a 1-0 second half lead but some calls that were game-changers went against the Tigers including a back-breaking non-called penalty kick in the second half.
Carlo Mosnia had a big save on a free kick from 22-yards out at the end of the first half that ended tied. Cameron Cooper was tripped at the eight-minute mark. Angle Hernandez was tripped from behind driving near the end of the first half.
Mosnia made a stop off a corner kick to start the second half. Adam Barnes scored off a header on a corner kick set up by Luke Villamaria to make it 35:41. Villamaria was tripped from behind with the ball not being touched by the defender and Villamaria was called for a hand-ball.
The ensuing free kick led to a Jesuit goal in a game-changing missed call that tied the game.
Cooper taken down from behind with the ball not touched in front of Jesuit's goal at 32:33. Logan Hellinghausen had a stop at 29:14. Several hard fouls by both teams were called midway through the half. Mosnia had a save at 27:43. Ryan Parker set up a corner kick at 24:32. Cesar Cruz set up a corner kick at 17:51 with Timothy Williams's header just over the ball. Jorge Marquez and Hellinghausen both had stops near the 15-minute mark. Cruz had a shot just go wide at 11:40. Jorge Guzman had a stop on defense. Jesuit scored off a long free kick that was bobbled by the goalie to go up 2-1. Villamaria was tackled hard just outside the box setting up a free kick for the Tigers last good opportunity to score.
Jesuit was one of the best teams the Tigers have faced in years and it was a physically played game by both teams that were evenly matched.
In the first round of the playoffs the Tigers defeated Mesquite Horn 3-0 with Angel Hernandez scoring twice and Villamaria once.
The Lady Tigers defeated Horn 4-0 in the first round. Hadley Young scored twice with Madi Goldston and Bekah Rush each scoring. The Lady Tigers lost to Garland Sachse in a shootout in the second round. Young scored her 41st goal of the season in her final game.
It was the final game for head coach Barry Elkins who took over the head coaching job of Mary Hardin-Baylor's soccer program Monday. Elkins turned the Lady Tigers soccer program into a state powerhouse after taking over a program that had never qualified for the playoffs. This past season there were 16 Lady Tigers soccer players playing at the college level including five that play at the highest level of Division 1.
