vs. Jersey Village

The Stratford Boys Varsity Soccer Team are 2-1 in District play after a convincing 4-1 win over the Jersey Village Falcons at home on Wednesday night.

First Half

As has been the case on several occasions this season, the Spartans struck first with a beautiful team goal just a minute and a half into the game. Hanno Waguespack and Jonah Yim executed a nice 1-2 combo to move the ball forward on Jersey Village’s end of the field, and Fardin Ansari was there to finish when the ball rolled into space in the middle of the box. It was a low-liner in the left corner, 1-0 Spartans.

Less than 10 minutes later, the Spartans were called for a foul in the box, and the Falcons converted the penalty kick for their only score of the game. All square 1 -1.

The Spartans were not to be denied on the night, as they wasted no time in retaking the lead. With 27 minutes remaining in the first half, Ricky Estrada launched an arching cross from the right side. A Jersey Village defender attempted to clear it with his head, and Fardin Ansari and Nicholas Velarde converged on the loose ball at the same time. As it deflected off a leg and softly bounced into space, midfielder Oliver Burdick pounced on it with a beautifully timed and executed one-touch finish with his non-dominant left foot. Left corner, traumatized goalkeeper. 2-1, Spartans.

Burdick dazzled with his masterful technical skills, bobbing and weaving his way through the Falcon defense and just missing on a couple more shot attempts during the remainder of the half.

The Falcons created several scoring opportunities during the latter minutes of the half, but the Spartans back line of Yim, Ryan Gifford, Juan Colo, and Dawson Burgett held their own. Davis Cooper (goalkeeper) also had several nice saves down the stretch. At halftime it was 2-1, Spartans.

Second Half

It took a bit longer for the Spartans to score in the second half than it did in the first, but Tarken Rendle added another goal to the scoreboard with just over 23 minutes remaining. From the right corner, he slid past his defender, skirted along the end line all the way to the post, and launched a cross that deflected off a Falcon and into the goal. 3 -1, Spartans.

As time went on, the Spartans' midfield of Velarde, Waguespack, Estrada, and Burdick continued to control possession and create chances, but shot attempts by Rendle and Ansari were just off target.

The Spartans got back on the board again with just 2:55 remaining when Carson Rushing received a pass in the box and got fouled in the process. Oliver Burdick took the free kick and placed it in the perfect place - top right corner and out of the leaping goalkeeper’s reach. 4-1 Spartans.

Although the entire defense was in lock-down mode throughout the game, senior right-back Dawson Burgett was a slide tackling maniac down the stretch. Time and again he executed perfectly timed slide tackles that resulted in out-of-bounds clearances that thwarted attacks.

Other Spartans with minutes: Theo Bigirimana, Bernardo Sanchez, Julio Garcia

That makes 5 wins and 1 tie in the last eight games for the Spartans, and they will look to keep the momentum rolling against Cy Fair at home on Saturday.

vs. Cy Fair

Varsity Boys Soccer notched another District win on Saturday, outscoring the Cy Fair Bobcats 2-1 on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Stratford Stadium.

First Half

The Spartans got on the board first, just thirteen minutes into the game. Theo Bigirimana’s penalty kick was saved by a diving Cy Fair goalkeeper, but a flying Tarken Rendle pounced on the rebound and blasted it into the back of the net. 1-0, Spartans.

Our midfielders and forwards created a flurry of chances throughout the remainder of the first half, but shots from Hanno Waguespack, Nicholas Velarde, Ricky Estrada, Oliver Burdick, and Fardin Ansari missed the target. At halftime, it was 1-0 Spartans.

Second Half

Second-half action found the Spartans on the offensive, with shots from Bigirimana, Burdick, Waguespack, Bernardo Sanchez, and nifty runs and crosses by Carson Rushing and Rendle on the wings.

With just over thirteen minutes remaining, Burdick dribbled through the defense on the left side and passed back to Waguespack in the middle. Waguespack spotted Burdick making the run to goal and placed a perfect pass that Burdick was able to control and scoot past the goalkeeper to the bottom left corner. 2-0 Spartans.

The Bobcats scored their lone goal with seven minutes remaining to make it 2-1, but the Spartans were able to control possession as the clock wound down and the victory was secured.

Goalkeeper Davis Cooper had another clutch performance with multiple saves, and the back line of Dawson Burgett, Jonah Yim, Juan Colo, Ryan Gifford, and Ahmad Al-Mohammad continued to play with a ton of confidence and toughness. With the victory over Cy Fair, our Varsity Boys now have a District record of 3 wins, 1 loss, and no ties, and they will travel to Cy Falls on Tuesday evening.