Vandegrift blanked by Flower Mound in semis
GEORGETOWN – Attention to detail and great execution lifted Flower Mound to a 2-0 win over Vandegrift in the Class 6A boys semifinals at the UIL state soccer tournament, setting up Saturday's title match between the 2019 state champion Jaguars and defending state champ Katy Seven Lakes, which dispatched Duncanville 2-0.
Flower Mound (23-2-2) scored once in each half off set plays initiated by throw-ins from defenseman Carter Simpson. The Jaguars then relied on goalkeeper Morgan English and a fiveman back line that played nearly flawless marking defense, denying Vandegrift many good looks at the net.
“We look for the seam in the defense on throw-ins and try and get the open shot,” Simpson said.
After a back-and-forth start to the contest, Flower Mound found its opening when the ball was kicked out of bounds on the east sideline about 30 meters out. Simpson rocked a throw-in nearly 30 meters across the field to Jack White on the opposite side. White onetouched the pass and blasted a shot back across the penalty box area, just inside the Vandegrift right goal post for a 1-0 lead 9 minutes, 52 seconds into the contest.
Vandegrift (22-3-2) pushed the pace, but the Jaguars' collapsing back-row defense, keyed around English playing out of the nets and delivering long-distance kicks, kept the Vipers' offense at bay.
The second half opened with Flower Mound pushing the ball upfield into the Vandegrift defensive zone, and a Viper's return sailed out of play, giving Simpson another throw-in from the sideline. He lofted the ball directly in front of the Vipers' goal, and in the subsequent scrum, Jaguars midfielder Alex Tabbah kicked the loose ball into the goal as Vandegrift goalkeeper Charlie Reed was inadvertently screened out of the play by his own defenseman. Tabbah's goal came just 3:04 into the second half.
Vandegrift had a couple of strong shots on goal by Yandel Andrade and Luke Hawley, but the Vipers were unable to establish a consistent attack.
The Vipers entered the semifinal with three straight shutouts and had outscored playoff opponents 13-1 in five wins, but the Jaguars' defense and throw-in offense proved the difference.