Greyhounds advance to championship game
GEORGETOWN — Hudson Vickery’s 18th birthday was a little more special than most.
The senior defender scored a goal on a free kick to help Boerne defeat Kilgore 1-0 in the Class 4A boys soccer team state semifinal at Birkelbach Field on Wednesday evening.
“It’s a great feeling not only to go have a chance to win state but to finish off with it senior year hopefully,” Vickery said.
After Vickery’s goal in the 25th minute, the Greyhounds (23-0) knew they had put pressure on the Bulldogs (25-3-2). Boerne coach Michael Strong said he chose to start with the wind because he likes to score early.
“Vickery had a great free kick that just pulled in, and their goalkeeper got caught stepping out,” Strong said.
With a win, the Greyhounds are one step closer to an undefeated season, which would be the first in the boys soccer program’s history. Boerne faces the winner of the Navasota vs. San Elizario matchup at 2:30 p.m. on Friday for the state title.
“It’s just a testament to these boys and their willingness to come out every single game and want to win that game,” Strong said. “They don’t take games off, we take them one at a time, we take them a half at a time. We didn’t come out and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to go 24 to 0.’ But that’s a culmination of all the hard work and all the preparation.”
The Greyhounds are staying up in Georgetown to watch the Boerne girls soccer team play in the state championship and to do a walkthrough on Thursday.
Kilgore entered its matchup against Boerne, having held opponents scoreless in four of its first five playoff games. But Vickery’s goal gave the Greyhounds a lead they never relinquished.
The Greyhounds have outscored opponents 15 to four in the playoffs with their early attacking strategy.
“That team we just played there, that Kilgore team was incredible,” Strong said. “They like to possess it, and we knew all that coming in and we knew that we were going to have to defend for 80 entire minutes, and the boys answered the call.”
This is Boerne’s fourth state tournament appearance since 2006. They won back-to-back championships in 2021 and 2022 but lost in penalty kicks against eventual state champion Hidalgo in the regional finals last season.
Vickery was on the team when it went back-to-back, but he said this title would feel different.
“My freshman and sophomore year was great, but to fall short last year, and then this year have a chance to go win,” Vickery said. “I think it would mean more just to have a setback and then go back.”
Boerne has not allowed a goal in four out of its first six playoff games this season. Strong said the team has been relentlessly guarding the goal. But goalkeeper Ben Niedecken did his part by deflecting the only Kilgore shot that was on target.
“We’re a family,” Vickery said. “We got to fight for each other, fight for the whole team. So, we do our best to help out our goalkeepers. Our guys up top doing all the work and help them keep us in the game.”
Strong said the Greyhounds have gotten to the state title game by playing for each other.
“A lot of these guys have been playing soccer together since they were five and that’s why they’re willing to do that extra running,” he said. “They’re willing to defend for that extra time. So, it’s the love of the brotherhood and then just a gutsy gritty team.”