High Drama on the Soccer Field
Both La Grange Teams Win District Matches Friday in Penalty Kick Thrillers
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La Grange’s Orlando Solorzano in action Friday against Rockdale. Photo by Jeff Wick -
La Grange’s Xavier Ortiz, above in action Friday, made a key penalty kick. Photos by Jeff Wick -
La Grange goalie Ramon Ortiz makes a key save on a penalty kick in Friday’s game.
Cabrera Scores 3, Torres Boots Game-Winner
Friday night for the La Grange boys soccer team was a rollercoaster that ended at the top.
Up 2-1 thanks to a pair of goals by Jeffrey Cabrera, La Grange seemed to be headed for a win over Rockdale before the Tigers scored on a free kick with just six minutes left to tie the game.
But like the La Grange girls did earlier in the night, the Leps prevailed on penalty kicks.
The La Grange boys won 4-3 thanks to a game-saving stop by Ramon Ortiz and penalty kick goals by Cabrera, Raul Mancera, and Xavier Ortiz, before sophomore Darey Torres booted in the gamewinner.
Torres was hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates as they celebrated the win.
“It feels amazing, all the pressure that comes off of you after you make that goal. It’s the best,” Torres said.
La Grange head coach Brodney Pool had a feeling Friday’s game might play out this way.
“I knew it would go down to the wire with those guys,” Pool said.
“Rockdale has a pretty good program and during the period today that’s all we worked on was PKs.”
And putting a sophomore in the final kicking role?
“We knew he’s a confident kid by the way he handles himself and I wouldn’t want anybody else in that situation,” Pool said. “He doesn’t get nervous.”
Not to be overlooked was the overtime heroics of Ortiz on goal.
“It’s awesome. Last year Ramon used to hide from penalties and now he embraces them,” Pool said. “He’s grown as a person you love to see that in young kids.”
Now 3-2 in district play, the Leps play at Manor New Tech Tuesday.