With bodies colliding in the penalty box and the ball hanging in the air, Coppell junior forward Liam Spiller saw his chance. As junior defender Mohamed Ouedraogo flicked a throw-in ball toward the goal, Spiller surged forward, met it with his head, and buried it into the net. Coppell had struck first.
Coppell held off Flower Mound Marcus 2-0 in a match that preserved the Cowboys’ first-place standing in District 5-6A on Tuesday at Buddy Echols Field. The win, which extended Coppell’s four-match win streak, was defined by Spiller’s early header and a decisive second-half goal from Coppell junior defender Brooks Kaiser.
“I came off the bench and did my job,” Spiller said. “We knew today was going to be a hard game and that we needed passion, because passion wins, and that drive has me ready to stay in first place.”
Coppell’s defensive effort proved critical. In the 28th minute of the first half, junior goalkeeper Chase Anderson saved a shot from Marcus senior midfielder Owen Gall, a timely intervention that maintained the narrow lead.
“It was being in the right place at the right time,” Anderson said. “That’s the big thing as a goalie. When they throw it in or have corner kicks, just be relentless.”
Then, with 15 minutes left, Kaiser made a run on the backside. After Coppell senior forward Luis Mendez delivered him a long ball, he took his defender one-on-one and pushed past to score, extending Coppell’s lead to 2-0.
Mendez stood out with aggressive runs, including a 60-yard sprint that stretched the Marcus defense, though it ended with a low-momentum kick. His drive was met with intense physicality, resulting in several tumbles under pressure.
“Taking hits actually motivates me,” Mendez said. “It tells me they can’t take the ball away from me, so they have to foul me, and that just boosts my motivation. Instead of getting mad, I use it as fuel thinking, ‘I’ll take him on again and get past him next time.'”
The Marauders pressed hard in the second half. With 25 minutes remaining, Gall earned a free kick, but his attempt sailed wide as Coppell’s defense held firm. A subsequent attempt by Coppell midfielder Lane Ladner was denied by Marcus junior goalkeeper Matthew Castro.
Throughout the season, Coppell has faced challenges with missing key players and frequent lineup changes. Tuesday’s disciplined performance showcased the team’s ability to adapt and work cohesively.
“This is the first group that I feel like fully trust each other,” Coppell coach Stephen Morris said. “You could see it on the field. The way they played, their chemistry together, and the way they kept their heads the whole time. If we keep that up, we make it all the way.”
The Cowboys play Hebron on Tuesday.
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