Mansfield Legacy boys win shootout over Midlothian
Published 4/4/2009 3:31:13 PM by staff from dallas
Moments before Mansfield Legacy goalkeeper Isaac Pile stepped in for the shootout against Midlothian, Pile had a gash above his eye glued shut. Pile didn’t need any stickem on his gloves though, as he again guided Legacy to a playoff victory, this time a 1-0 win after a 3-1 margin in the shootout. Pile recorded saves on three of Midlothian’s four attempts in the Class 4A Region I semifinals at Wichita Falls Memorial Stadium on Friday. Legacy (20-8-3) advanced to Saturday’s regional championship against El Paso Austin. Pile guided Legacy through a shootout victory in the previous round, while playing on the field as a defender during regulation and overtime. "It’s amazing," Isaac Pile said. "It’s indescribable. We’ve worked so hard for two years and it’s finally paying off. It’s just amazing." After missing their first two shootout attempts, the Broncos got goals from Jordan Rodriquez, Andrew Ojeda and Johannes Gloeckler to secure the victory. The district rivals met twice during the regular season and Midlothian (22-4-3) swept those matches. Midlothian’s organized and rugged defense had not allowed a goal in the four previous playoff matches. The Panthers’ offense, meanwhile, had recorded 10 goals in the postseason. The match began at a ridiculously fast pace, which actually hampered both teams in trying to connect consecutive passes. Both pushed heavily in the attack and counterattack, but Legacy finally found a bit of the play around the 30th minute. The Broncos took the game’s best 1st half opportunities, including a header that struck the crossbar and deflected out. The wind wasn’t a huge factor early in the match, but Legacy did enjoy its subtle benefits in the opening 40 minutes. Rodriquez, Legacy’s left fullback, enjoyed a particularly strong first half by disrupting a number of Midlothian passes and starting the Legacy transition. The second half was equally as dynamic with Legacy striking the frame on two chances and Midlothian hitting the post once.
Label: Mansfield Legacy boys soccer, Isaac Pile, Johannes Gloeckler
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