Seven Lakes dominates in a shutout of Cinco Ranch
Seven Lakes (23-1-2) will look to defend its Class 6A title after a dominating 4-0 win over District 19-6A rival Cinco Ranch in the Region III final at Deer Park.
The decisive score came less than two minutes into the game when senior midfielder Sean Carlos Rivera sent home the first goal off a feed from senior forward Daniel Ejerewa.
“It was so big,” Rivera said. “It just boosted our team’s morale immediately. Going up a goal at half and getting the wind at your back in the second half, we were super confident. Instantly, we just started pressing them harder after that goal.”
Cinco Ranch’s opportunities to score were few and far between in the opening 40 minutes, and they didn’t increase in the second half.
The Spartans, meanwhile, were busy in the attacking third of the field with senior forward Noa Stasic, senior midfielder Sammy Harpole and junior midfielder Kortay Koc each challenging the Cougar goal.
Late in the first half, Cinco Ranch had a 34yard free kick headed away, while a strong throw-in was corralled by Seven Lakes goalkeeper Ben Aviles Vera.
In the second half, Harpole scored in the 55th minute and Koc’s goal in the 66th minute stretched the advantage to 3-0.
With 1:25 left, Seven Lakes capped its scoring on a goal by sophomore midfielder Gael Gonzalez.
Cinco Ranch’s Ossian Elgstrom hit the post in the 59th minute to represent the Cougars’ best chance at scoring, but otherwise Seven Lakes answered the call each time.
The Spartans will now try to become the first Class 6A boys soccer team to repeat a state title.