Jeffrey Cabrera’s Four Goals Lead Leps To a Big Season-Opening Soccer Victory
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The members of the La Grange varsity boys soccer team pose on the field after Tuesday’s 6-0 season-opening victory over Luling. Photo by Jeff Wick -
La Grange’s Jeffrey Cabrera in action in Tuesday’s game.
After one coach left for another job, and the hiring of that coach’s replacement fell through over the Christmas break, Zach Mueller found out on New Year’s Eve that La Grange needed him to take over as Leps’ boys varsity soccer coach.
Seven days later he and his new Leps won their first game of the season – bashing Luling 6-0.
That quick coaching transition was eased by Lep senior Jeffrey Cabrera, who booted four goals Tuesday (to make him an easy choice as this week’s Fayette County Athlete of the Week).
“You can tell how someone is going to play in a game from how they practice, and Jeff practices the exact same way he plays,” Mueller said. “He goes extremely hard in everything he does, and it shows up.
“Everybody on the team and everybody in the community that follows the soccer program knows what to expect from Jeff – and he holds himself to an extremely high standard.”
After his big game, Cabrera was more excited about the play of the entire team than about his personal accomplishments.
“It’s not only my success, it’s everybody’s success. I’m glad to see everybody playing their hearts out and that’s what motivated me. That’s a good feeling,” Cabrera said.
Aldo Hernandez and Dilan Barron also scored goals for the Leps. Raul Mancera had four assists and Jared Hernandez had an assist.
Goalies Ramon Ortiz and Quade Brothers combined on the shutout.
Mueller has been impressed with what he’s seen from all the Leps in his first few days as coach.
“This is really a player-led team,” Mueller said. “That’s exactly what you want. These guys have already been through adversity by themselves. It’s their team ... The seniors tonight, Jeff, Ramon, Raul, stepped up and are leading and they’ve been doing that in practice and I expect that going forward.”
Mueller said the team has set a trio of goals this season – making the playoffs, pulling off at least one major upset this season and seizing opportunities.
“We’ve struggled the past two years, but I really believe with this team we can make it far,” Cabrera said. “From here on out, we just have to try to keep getting better.”
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