Senior
James McCrea scored a pair of second half goals, helping the Rangers come storming back from a 2-0 deficit and ultimately win the first Jesuit-Meintser Soccer Invitational Championship since 2016 with a 3-1 advantage in penalties on Saturday at Ranger Stadium. Jesuit finished the tournament with a pair of goals in all three games, with four different Rangers earning a spot on the scoring column as Jesuit will enter district play with a 2-0-1 record.
McCrea's first goal came in the 51st minute, when senior
Erwin Ordaz launched a free kick that landed just outside of the penalty area. McCrea collected the ball with a touch, then launched the shot past the Skyline goalkeeper to cut the Raiders' lead to one. Minutes later, Ordaz took another free kick following one of Skyline's 11 fouls. Ordaz placed a shot on target that was saved by Skyline goalkeeper Jose Martinez, and the rebound landed at the foot of McCrea for the equalizer.
Ordaz took Jesuit's first penalty, converting to give Jesuit an early lead. Senior goalkeeper
Cole Hines stopped Skyline's first penalty attempt, providing the opening for junior
Caleb Fisher to spot the Blue and Gold a 2-0 lead in penalties on his converted attempt. Skyline cut Jesuit's lead in half, and the Rangers missed back-to-back opportunities to open the door for the Raiders' to take the lead.
On Skyline's third penalty attempt, Hines made a sensational, one-handed save a high-rising shot from Skyilne's Martinez to keep Jesuit's lead intact, and Skyline's fourth penalty ricocheted off the post to provide Jesuit the opportunity to clinch. Senior
Josh Roppolo clinched the championship, beating Martinez to the lower right corner on Jesuit's fifth penalty.
During regulation and overtime, Jesuit out-shot Skyline, 13-4, taking five shots on goal. Hines made a pair of saves in the first half, while McCrea took three shots on goal, followed by shots on target by Ordaz and junior
Jason Ogbolu.
Jesuit Dallas will begin University Interscholastic League (UIL)Â District 7-6A play on Tuesday, Jan. 10 against J.J. Pearce. Kick-off is set for 7:15 p.m. at J.J. Pearce High School.
