Mount Pleasant takes down Forney, 2-0

GREENVILLE, Texas— Mount Pleasant has made a tradition of playoff victories.

The Tigers notched another one Friday, defeating Forney, 2-0, in a Class 5A boys bi-district match at Greenville’s Cotton Ford Stadium.

Mount Pleasant, the District 16-5A champion, scored in the 33rd and 61st minutes to turned in a clean sheet against the Jackrabbits.

“We felt coming in that we would be able to possess the ball; that’s our style,” Mount Pleasant coach Jason Mayfield said. “Early we had some opportunities, and we either made a bad decision or a bad touch. We left some opportunities out there.

“And then we had a breakthrough play, and in the sec-

ond half we really started to settle in and open up with our offense.”

Nathaniel Villavicencio set up the initial Tiger score. The senior forward chased down a through ball and saved it before it passed the end line. Villavicencio dropped the ball to Marcus Perez on the right wing, and with time, Perez rainbowed a perfect cross to the back post to a pair of teammates.

Sammy Puente got on the back end of the cross, heading in the goal with 8:32 left before intermission for Mount Pleasant (19-1-5).

The Tigers took the 1-0 lead into the break, and midway through the second half added an insurance goal.

Villavicencio settled the ball down deep the left wing, and he sent a quick pass across the face of goal. Giovanni Rocha slid in for a 1-touch goal with 19:44 left in the match.

“The second one was big because it took some pressure off of us,” Mayfield said.