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One step closer: Plano shuts out Panthers, moves within sight of 8-5A title
BY Matt Welch, mwelch@starlocalnews.com
MURPHY -- The Plano Senior boys soccer team exited halftime with a purpose Friday night against Plano East.
Cashing in just once on a slew of chances in the opening half, the Wildcats (7-2-4, 18 points) ratcheted up the attack for a surprise the Panthers (2-8-2, 6 points) had no counter for in a 2-0 shutout from Kimbrough Stadium that inched Plano one step closer to at least a share of the District 8-5A Championship.
"We just came out strong," said Tony Santibanez, Plano senior. "We really wanted to win this game. At halftime, we talked about how we had to put this away and get closer to being district champions."
"Everything opened up and then I saw [senior Ramon Gallegos], and we just started playing," Santibanez said. "We found it through, found some gaps and just started penetrating, which ended up in a goal."
The Panthers never recovered, shell-shocked after an aggressive and opportunistic first half.
"It was a great shot that went off my sweeper's foot," said Rick Woodard, East head coach. "I don't think that would have changed anything, but scoring in the first 11 seconds definitely says something."
East mustered just four second-half shots in the vicinity of Plano senior Kyle Johnson, who helped commandeer the Wildcats' 10th shutout of the season and the sixth in district play.
Contrast that to the first half where the Panthers ripped off eight shots, the bulk of which either narrowly missed the net or fell into the waiting hands of Johnson. The Panthers nearly outsmarted the Wildcats in the 33rd minute though, earning a free kick from 24 yards out and setting up a quartet of players in front of the ball with both juniors Gustavo Piedra and Tavis King in line to take the shot.
Masking the ball from the Wildcats defenders, the Panthers unraveled one by one until Piedra was left with a shot that left Johnson frozen in his tracks, but sailed low and wide left of the net.
"That's a set piece that we've had in for a while," Woodard said. "It's set up so they can't actually set the wall up properly, so they can't see it. It worked and their keeper was frozen, but Gustavo just missed it by inches."
The Wildcats also mustered eight shots in the first half, cashing in on one during the 27th minute after Gallegos launched a pass that traveled in excess of 40 yards and landed right in the path of Stephen Cypert. The junior beat East senior Colby England for a 1 v. 1 chance at senior Felipe Vial -- a chance the forward made good on with a low shot for the game's first goal.
"Coach wanted us to play the balls more to the forward," Gallegos said. "When I got the ball, I looked for Stephen and just played the ball through, hoping he'd score like he did."
Complemented by Santibanez's sudden second-half goal, it was all the offense needed to fend off the Panthers for the team's second straight win after going the first three weeks of March without a victory.
The Wildcats look to capture at least a share of the 8-5A crown Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. when they host Plano West at Clark Stadium. East closes out its season at Lewisville.
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