La Grange Soccer Teams Surging as Playoffs Loom
The La Grange boys and girls soccer teams are powering towards the playoffs, with both teams in position to head to the postseason as runner-ups in District 19-4A.
The Leps officially clinched that runner-up spot Friday at Leopard Stadium with a 2-0 victory over Smithville.
In the nightcap of the doubleheader, the Lady Leps battled hard against the state’s No. 1-ranked 4A girls team Giddings, but lost 5-0 in their final home appearance of the season.
In the boys game, Victor Soto scored both goals for the Leps and head coach William McGonagle highlighted the strong play of Jackson Bundick, Coy Gillum and goalie Antonio Landaverde as the La Grange boys improved to 12-4-2 overall and 8-2 in district.
“It’s been a total team effort,” Bundick said. “We have some new guys stepping up. We came out this year hungry as ever, motivated like never before. It’s insane how much we’ve grown.”
“We’ve had a lot of guys move around to different positions this year,” McGonagle said. “We’ve had some step up in spots I wouldn’t have thought. The good news is that we haven’t played our best game yet, we want to hit playoffs with momentum. Right now it (success in the playoffs) is going to come down to belief in their own ability. We expected to be district champs this year, sometimes expectations don’t come true, but that doesn’t mean you quit trying. Tonight was a big step in the right direction for us.”
The Leps play their final home game Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. against Hearne and then close out the regular season at Caldwell March 12.
Meanwhile, for the Lady Leps there was no shame in losing Friday to Giddings, which has started the season with 21 consecutive wins.
“They are No. 1 for a reason. It does help us become better. We love the challenge, and we played very well tonight,” said La Grange girls head coach Chris Westall. “A few small mistakes are magnified against a team like Giddings.”
Westall said he was pleased with the play late in the game as some reserves entered the game and held Giddings starters scoreless for 15 minutes.
Friday’s game was the final home contest for the Lady Leps.
“When I looked up at the clock with about 20 seconds left I got a little teary-eyed. I’ve been playing on this field for a long time,” said La Grange goalie Harper Westall, one of the team’s seniors.
The La Grange girls now have an overall record of 11-5-1 and a district mark of 6-2. They can clinch the runner-up spot in district with a win Tuesday at Cameron. Then they close out the regular season with a game Friday at Caldwell and have a postseason tune-up scheduled at Gateway Prep March 23, and then, they hope, a long playoff runs awaits.
“We have a lot better soccer IQ this year, our seniors have really pushed through,” Harper Westall said.
Last year’s season was cancelled right before the playoffs because of the pandemic as both the La Grange boys and girls soccer teams look poised for long playoff runs then.
“Last year we could have done some damage,” Chris Westall said. “These girls want something after 2020 was taken away from them – and 2021 is their chance.”