Varsity Boys Soccer opened District play this week with two matches against Cy Fair and Cy Creek, Tuesday and Friday nights respectively.

1/23 vs. Cy Fair

The Spartans took the pitch in the rain Tuesday night for the first District game at home.

The Stratford boys had early opportunities, including a shot from Santi Chelala in just the 2nd minute of play that went over the cross bar and a shot from Hanno Waguespack in the 3rd minute on target but in the hands of the keeper.

The Spartan defense kept the Bobcats off the board with a great early save by goalkeeper Davis Cooper.

Additional shots were taken by Stratford, including two by Everett Dwyer in the 15th minute.

A nice scoring opportunity came in the 30th minute when Ryan Gifford took the ball up the left sideline, passing it to Hanno, who crossed into the middle where Lorenzo Maule was waiting. Maule’s shot was on target but saved by the Cy Fair keeper.

Right before halftime, Dwyer created a chance when he dribbled two defenders, cut in and took a left-foot shot that was high and right but just tipped out by the keeper.

Halftime 0-0

The Spartans continued to be relentless on the goal in the second half, with the first shot coming off a set piece by Chelala that flew just over the crossbar. A good team effort was made in the 55th minute when Hanno took a long ball up from Johnny Lumpkin. Hanno crossed into the middle for a Maule header that was just tipped out by the keeper.

A stout Stratford defense kept Cy Fair off the board for most of the half, including takeaways by Juan and Gifford and Ricky Estrada.

But with 10 minutes remaining, Cy Fair took the ball down the right sideline on a counter-attack and crossed it to an open forward in the middle for a tap-in goal.

0-1

The Spartans attacked and pressed the last few minutes, desperately trying to equalize, but left themselves open to a counter-attack, and Cy Fair scored again with just a few seconds left, to seal their win.

0-2 Cy Fair

1/26 vs. Cy Creek

On Friday night, Stratford Varsity Men's Soccer traveled to Cy Creek for a cold, rainy game.

Early opportunities were created by Jasper Hartman by dribbling through the defense and taking a hard shot on target, but it was caught by the keeper.

Quickly, Cy Creek bounced back and, with no proper clearance from Stratford in front of the box, they tapped it in to take an early lead, 0-1.

Santi Chelala had a nice takeaway from the Cy Creek defense to create a scoring opportunity but just missed wide right.

The Stratford defense kept out Cy Creek on several back-to-back corner opportunities.

Then in the 25th minute, Tarkin Rendle took a long ball up through the middle and was fouled for a set piece just outside the box. Lorenzo Maule took the free kick for a goal to equalize, 1-1.

Soon after, Everett Dwyer had a nice opportunity with a long driving shot that was just blocked out by the keeper, but as the Cy Creek defenders were trying to clear the ball, Chelala intercepted a botched clearance for a quick volley to the goal, Stratford 2-1.

Just before halftime, Fabu Ndayishimiye took a hard shot that just went off the defender for a corner, but there was no result on the corner.

2-1 Halftime

Ryan Gifford led the defensive effort with a few great takeaways opening the second half. Then Davis Cooper had an incredible save off a dangerous Cy Creek header to keep the Spartans in the lead.

On the other end of the pitch, the Spartans created a few scoring opportunities, one from Chelala just wide of the goal and another one, a 20-yarder from Dwyer, just a bit wide right.

There were several yellow cards and injuries that marked the second half, but with a few minutes left, Cy Creek snuck one in to equalize 2-2.

The Spartans had one final chance when Dwyer dribbled past two defenders and took a hard shot up to the corner of the goal, but the ball went just a bit high.

Unfortunately, Stratford Varsity could not find the back of the next again and had to settle for the tie, 2-2.

And so begins District play for the Spartans at 0-1-1. We’re still all over the goal, creating multiple opportunities to score while just not getting into the net. The defense is keeping the games close.

Join us next week as District play continues Wednesday at home against Northbrook and Saturday on the road against Spring Woods.