The Stratford Boys Varsity Soccer team opened up pre-season play last week with two away games against historically strong programs.

vs. Tomball Memorial HS

On Tuesday night, January 3rd, SHS took on the Tomball Memorial High School Wildcats for an exciting match-up. The Spartans dominated possession in the opening 15 minutes with various scoring opportunities from corners and long runs. TMHS began the scoring with a goal in one of only two runs having been made to the box. Just before halftime, SHS tied it up. On a long crossing pass from Yuto Komiya, Jacob Smith received it wide, then cut in and bent in a shot to the upper right back of the net from outside the box, making it 1-1. The competition seemed to level out in the second half and TMHS went up 2-1 with 10 minutes into the second half.

Then at the 70th minute on a short looping cross in from Hanno Waguespack, Brian Leon snuck one just past the Wildcat keeper to equalize, 2-2. Unfortunately, the tie did not last long as five minutes later, the Spartans were called for contact in the box to give up a penalty kick. TMHS converted the PK to go up 3-2. The Spartans again had multiple chances to level up the game in the last five minutes. One particularly close one, Fabrice Ndayishimiye had a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper and passed a lightly touched ball over the keeper's head. But there just wasn't enough on the ball as a defender rushed in to sweep the ball away just inches from the goal line.

The Spartans played a great game and put themselves in a position to win, but came up just short as TMHS went on to win 3-2.

vs. Klein Memorial HS

On Friday night, January 6th, the Spartans travelled to Klein Memorial High School to take on the Klein High School Bearkats. As we saw earlier in the week, the match-up was close but the Spartans slightly edged the competition in possession. Several scoring opportunities were created by this Spartan offense with notable and numerous shots from Jacob Smith, Hanno Waguespack, and Yuto Komiya. The Spartan defense line was stout and there were critical saves by keeper Juan Ugalde. In the end, the Spartans' upper classman Yuto Komiya connected on a penalty kick from a hand ball in the box to give SHS the lead and subsequent win, 1-0.

Congratulations, Spartans, on two well-played contests and steady improvement from mid-December.

The boys will travel Tuesday, January 10th, to take on Cy-Springs.