Hopes were low for the Coppell boys soccer team who trailed the entire first half. Fans were vocal. Players fouled repeatedly. Yet, the Cowboys persisted.
They didn’t take the lead until the final 14 minutes, but when it mattered most, they shut it down.
The Cowboys came out on top against Denton Guyer in the second half at Buddy Echols Field, to pull out a 3-2 in its District 5-6A home opener. The game was moved to Thursday due to Friday’s foreseen winter weather.
“We never felt out of it,” Coppell coach Stephen Morris said. “Even down 2–0, the energy stayed high and we trusted that the goals would come.”
Guyer controlled the early pace and opened the scoring with 25:19 left in the first half, converting a free kick to take a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats then added another goal with 18:51 remaining in the half, pushing their advantage to 2-0 and forcing Coppell to respond.
The Cowboys found that response just before halftime. With 46 seconds left in the first half, Coppell senior midfielder Brooks Kaiser netted a free kick, scored the first goal for Coppell, and headed into halftime 2-1.
“That goal before halftime changed the game,” Morris said. “It gave us belief and flipped the momentum going into the second half.”
Coppell capitalized on that momentum early in the second half, not letting the Wildcats back in their space. Senior defender Justice Ihezie drove the ball downfield and spotted a gap between players to tie the match at 2-2 with 23:57 remaining finishing a scoring chance to bring the Cowboys even.
“We came out aggressive,” McGrath said. “We knew if we kept pressure on them, something would open up.”
Focusing on gaps and spacing the entire night, the Cowboys capitalized on using their quick decision skills in game to make the move to the penalty box.
“Everything that happens is the decisions the players make,” Morris said. “We need to tighten our spaces, find gaps more quickly and work under pressure a little bit more.”
The Cowboys claimed their first lead of the night with 13:45 remaining, controlling possession in the attacking third before sophomore forward Colin McGrath found the back of the net to go up 3-2 for his first goal of the season.
Guyer made a final push in the closing minutes, but senior goalkeeper Chase Anderson secured the win with two saves in the final minute to prevent the Wildcats from equalizing.
“That’s what district games are about,” McGrath said. “Everyone stepping up when it counts.”
With the comeback win, Coppell improves to 1-1 in District 5-6A and faces Little Elm onTuesday.
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