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JPII tops PCA, remains unbeaten on pitch
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@acnpapers.com
After getting nearly four weeks off for winter break, the John Paul II boys soccer team has been making up for lost time quickly, competing in four matches in seven days.
The accelerated schedule hasn't managed to decelerate the Cardinals' momentum though as the team remains unbeaten at 9-0-2. Those victories have pushed John Paul up to No. 1 in the state in the latest MaxPreps poll and No. 29 nationally.
"This team is playing with a lot of motivation to prove to everyone on and around campus that they are winners," said Jamie DeWitt, John Paul head coach.
John Paul beat city rival Prestonwood for the second time this season on Monday, managing a 2-1 victory over the Lions in a rain-soaked affair. The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead following scores from seniors Austin Pope and Adrian DeLaPena with the Lions putting up a late goal.
"We compiled a lot of combination passes, moved the ball around very well and the boys held possession for the majority of the game," DeWitt said. "It wasn't until the bench was emptied that the boys let in a goal in the last minutes of the game."
That victory upped John Paul's district record to 5-0-2.
Both ties came in the past week.
Last Thursday, John Paul battled to a 1-1 draw with defending TAPPS State Champion Fort Worth Nolan, which had to be disappointing given the circumstances of the result. The Cardinals got on the board first when senior Brock Snelson, who leads the state in goals, tickled the twine. That 1-0 advantage held up until extra time when John Paul was charged with an own goal for the 1-1 draw.
"The boys played well," DeWitt said. "I thought we dominated the play before Nolan played a ball in and we accidentally headed it in for an own goal."
A draw was in the works Friday as well.
This one would be significantly higher scoring though as John Paul and Bishop Lynch found themselves knotted at 3-3. The Cardinals were not in control of this match though as they trailed much of the night and needed every bit of DeLaPena's hat trick to eventually even the match.
"The boys did not play well and were very scattered the whole night," DeWitt said. "But we found a way to tie a game that was very much influenced by the referees."
John Paul is back in action today, but will face a different slate of competition as it spends the next three days in the Berkner Ice Bowl. The Cardinals are scheduled to face defending Class 5A State Champion Southlake Carroll today, Richardson on Friday and Mansfield on Saturday.
"The boys have put together a solid run into the first part of the season," DeWitt said, "and look to add to their winning ways in the future."
Lady Cardinals head to Wylie
While the John Paul boys take on new competition in Richardson, their female counterparts will do the same at the Wylie Tournament.
With another match against Prestonwood on the docket during the three-day event, which begins today, John Paul will also face West Mesquite and Wylie. The Lady Cardinals (9-3-3, 8-2-2 in district) enter on a hot streak as they are undefeated the past nine matches. John Paul beat Episcopal School of Dallas on Friday, 2-1, and Bishop Lynch on Tuesday, 1-0, on a goal from senior Ashley Adams.
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