High-scoring Boerne, LEE shoot for final
It took less than half a minute for Boerne to set a course to its first UIL state semifinal appearance since 2006.
The Greyhounds tallied three goals in 25 seconds in the first half to take control of a scoreless match en route to a 7-0 victory against Hidalgo in the Region IV-4A championship Friday in Corpus Christi.
Jess Gonzalez converted a penalty kick after Rowdy Fritz was fouled. Landon Murphy scored off an assist from Sam Theiss. Theiss scored the third goal off a Hidalgo misplay in that short span that gave the Greyhounds a commanding lead.
“I thought it spoke of the hunger the boys had to win the game,” Boerne coach Michael Strong said. “They’re not satisfied with just getting the one in. As cliché as it sounds, but once they smell blood in the water, they go for it, and I thought that was a great example.”
Rodriguez and Murphy had two goals against Hidalgo.
“I think it speaks to the quality of our players,” Strong said. “They’re dangerous at any point of the game, and at any point on the field, we can do some pretty big damage.”
The Greyhounds (20-1-1) face Huffman Hargrave (167-6) in the 4A state semifinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Columbus.
Boerne is one of two area teams remaining in the playoff. LEE (26-1) takes on Houston Jersey Village (11-3-4) in a Class 6A state semifinal at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.
The Greyhounds’ 7-0 victory wasn’t an anomaly. The Greyhounds have shown they can put up scores of goals at a time. Boerne has outscored opponents 110-14. The Greyhounds have scored seven or more goals seven times and have reached double digits in goal four times. Boerne has recorded 13 shutouts.
“What’s great about this team is from an offensive standpoint, we’re always in a game,” Strong said. “It relieves a lot of pressure on the defense. They know if they give up one, our attacking players have their backs.”
Theiss, a junior midfielder, and Fritz, a senior forward, are responsible for about half the Greyhounds’ goals. Strong said they pair well together and open Boerne’s offense by drawing defenders.
Meanwhile, LEE returns to the field where it experienced its biggest heartbreak in 2019 when it lost to Flour Mound in penalty kicks in the Class 6A state championship.
LEE and Flour Mound played to a scoreless draw after regulation and overtime before the Volunteers lost 4-1 in penalty kicks.
Three Volunteers who started in that match are still around, including senior goalkeeper Joey Batrouni, senior midfielder Jonathan Facio and senior midfielder Henry Bowland.
Facio scored the Volunteers’ only goal and Batrouni made a big save that pushed LEE to a 2-1 (4-3 PKS) against Austin Lake Travis on Friday to get LEE through.
The Volunteers are in the state semifinals for the third time overall. LEE also qualified in 1997.