Highlanders earn Coach Kleinschmidt 400th win
The Woodlands coach Hans Kleinschmidt earned his 400th career win as his Highlanders took down District 12-6A foe Conroe 1-0 on Friday at Moorhead Stadium. Right after the final whistle, The Woodlands players shook hands then heaped congratulations on their coach. Kleinschmidt said his players’ awareness of his personal milestone was meaningful.
The Woodlands coach Hans Kleinschmidt earned his 400th career win as his Highlanders took down District 12-6A foe Conroe 1-0 on Friday at Moorhead Stadium.
Right after the final whistle, The Woodlands players shook hands then heaped congratulations on their coach. Kleinschmidt said his players’ awareness of his personal milestone was meaningful.
“The kids have been talking about trying to get it this year,” he said. “It means a lot not just for these kids, but for The Woodlands High School and the program. All 400 haven’t been here, but I’ve been here for 300 or so. The kids take a lot of pride in not just winning for themselves, but for the program. I appreciate the fact that they were cognizant of what was going on, but it’s not just me, it’s the kids.”
The Highlanders (122-3, 7-0-1, 22 points) got a goal from Alex Duffour in the 56th minute to break the scoreless tie. Duffour had two goals in the first meeting against the Tigers (11-6-2, 5-2-1, 16 points), a 3-1 win in February.
Conroe played the district-leading team a goal closer Friday and did so without four starters.
“The boys left it all out on the field and that’s what you ask of them,” coach Victor Trejo said. “I’m proud of their effort. We had our chances, but it wasn’t our night.”
In a scoreless first half, each team had quality chances.
Conroe’s best opportunities to score came via the same connection.
In the 6th minute, Justin Meza got a ball to Danny Bonilla in the box. Bonilla got his foot on the ball for a volley, but was unable to get all of it and The Woodlands goalkeeper Blake Havern easily made the stop.
Meza connected with Bonilla again in the 24th minute, this time finding the forward at the top of the box. After he calmed the ball down, Bonilla took a shot but, again, failed to make a complete connection on the kick.
The Woodlands caught Conroe offside five times in the game in an effort to slow the Tigers’ quick attack.
“We know that their guys are going to control the midfield and once they get control, they’re going to try to release Danny,” Kleinschmidt said. “That kid is a very, very dangerous goal scorer and he hasn’t scored on us in district. To hold him scoreless says a whole bunch. Give credit to our backline and our goalkeeper.”
The Woodlands outshot Conroe 8-4 in the first half, though only one shot made it on net. The Highlanders’ best chances of the first 40 minutes — including a shot off the crossbar — came late.
Duffour broke through in the 56th minute. He gathered a loose ball toward the top of the box and sent a low shot to the bottom left of the net for the game’s only goal.
Conroe’s best chance at a tie came as the final horn sounded. Bonilla got the ball and dribbled toward the box. His shot hit the football goal post’s crossbar, just a couple feet higher than the net.
“Every time we play Conroe, it’s an unbelievable battle,” Kleinschmidt said. “Conroe’s one of the top teams in our district, so all credit to them. This was a hard-fought game. Give our guys credit, too. To come here and beat Conroe on their home field is very, very tough.”
Both teams have two district games left. The Woodlands is at College Park next Friday before concluding with Lufkin at home on Mar. 23. Conroe is at Montgomery next Friday, then wraps up the regular season Mar. 23 at home against College Park.
“We want to finish strong,” Trejo said. “We’ve got Montgomery and College Park then hopefully playoffs, we’ll see what position we’re in. We’ll look to get better and keep playing hard every game.”