Soccer earns third playoff berth in 25 years

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

Marble Falls boys soccer team will advance to the Class 5A playoffs as the No. 2 seed after battling rival Dripping Springs to a 1-1 tie Friday at Mustang Stadium.

Marble Falls lost only one game all season and will carry a 18-1-6 season record into the playoffs against Austin Lanier.

The bi-district match is scheduled for March 24 at Nelson Field. The time is tentatively set for 7:30 p.m. at the field on Reagan High School’s campus.

“We had so many opportunities,’’ Marble Falls coach Rick Hoover said. “We had at least four opportunities that we normally score on. Ninety nine percent of the time we score on those type shots. Two of them were almost put back.’’

The only score of the game for Marble Falls came on shot by junior Cristian Ramirez off an assist from Gilder Vasquez.

He scored at the 27:28 mark of the second half to tie the game.

Marble Falls finished with a 8-1-6 district record while Alamo Heights won the district championship with an 9-1-5 record. Alamo Heights beat Medina Valley, 4-3, in its Friday game.

“Right now we just have to get heathy,’’ Hoover said. “We’ve got three guys out that only played 10 to 15 minutes a half. Normally, Cristian Santibanez. Fortino Tinajera and Gavino Tinajera won’t come off the field when they are healthy.’’

The Mustangs leading scorer for the season is junior Christian Ammons.

“I had some shots, but sent them wide,’’ Ammons said.

Marble Falls was trying to earn its first district championship. They would have needed a victory and an Alamo Heights defeat.

This year’s team is the third playoff team to make the playoffs in 25 years of the progam.