Two corner kicks leading to goals by junior
Caleb Fisher and sophomore
Noah McGough as Jesuit Dallas earned its way into the second round of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Region I-6A Tournament with a hard-fought, 2-1 win over Arlington Sam Houston on Friday night. The Rangers will next match up against Flower Mound Marcus, who upset Prosper, the top-ranked team in the area, 3-2 on Friday to advance to the second round.
The Jesuit Dallas defense weathered a relentless attack from the Texans throughout the game, as Sam Houston racked up 10 shots during the contest. Senior
Cole Hines secured three saves during the contest, while another defensive play was made by junior
Matthew Sucato, who made a goal-line defensive clearance that kept Jesuit's lead intact in the final minute of the contest.
Fisher scored Jesuit's first goal of the game at the midway point of the first half, sending Jesuit into the break with a 1-0 advantage. Sam Houston tied the game with 24 minutes left in the second, and Jesuit followed with a strong push for the go-ahead tally. With the next 10 minutes, junior
Jason Ogbolu made an attempt that was blocked, junior
Lucas Parra launched a header towards the cage and senior
James McCrea deflected a header of his own that was stopped by the Texans' goalkeeper.
Jesuit earned another corner kick with 14:25 remaining and senior
Erwin Ordaz found a cloud of Rangers inside the box. Two shots were blocked before McGough sent an attempt that hit the crossbar and landed behind the goal-line to give Jesuit Dallas the lead with 13:50 remaining. The Ranger defense held firm down the stretch, blocking a shot with 11:15 remaining before Sucato's goal-line clearance allowed the Rangers the opening to clinch the win.
Details for the area round matchup between Jesuit Dallas and Flower Mound Marcus will be announced over the weekend. Marcus, the fourth seed out of District 6-6A, handed Prosper its first loss of th season to advance to the second round. Friday's win marks the third straight year that Jesuit Dallas has advanced to the UIL area round.
