By Gaby Moran
Staff Writer

With half the district season over and playoffs coming around the corner, Coppell boys soccer still has not gotten to their full potential.

With four more games left until the season is over, Coppell has many crucial games including a Feb. 26 game against Hebron whom Coppell is tied with for the fourth ranking spot.

“We beat Hebron last time but anything can happen and we just have to go out there and starting scoring more,” senior captain Jordan Elgin said.

Coppell has had a problem with scoring goals this year. Last year, the team scored a total of 11 goals in the first half of the district games while this year, Coppell has only scored four.

 “This is definitely not how we wanted to start the district season and now this puts more pressure on the team for the next few games,” senior captain Colton Reese said.

After last week, the standings place Flower Mound Marcus in first, Southlake Carroll in second, Flower Mound in third and Hebron and Coppell tied for fourth. All of the games have been very close and no one has a guaranteed playoff spot yet.

“This has always been a tough district especially with all the teams playing so close this year,” senior Brandon Donahue said. “It’s now down to just one goal that becomes the deciding factor.”

All the games Coppell has played have been close and usually the difference between a win and a loss is just one goal. District 6-5A is one of the most competitive districts in the state. Due to the difficulty, the top four teams in District 6-5A get to go to playoffs. Last year, the playoff qualifiers from 6-5A went 4-0 in the first round.

After Hebron, Coppell still has Marcus, Lewisville and Flower Mound to play again, with one of the three games at home. Coppell’s record with these teams was one loss and two tied games. There are no shoot outs until the playoff rounds.

“We need to score,” boys varsity coach Shane Bybee said. “In most games, we’re creating chances, but getting very few shots on goal.”

While Coppell’s defense is very strong only giving the other teams very few chances on goal, the offense has been falling behind. Offense has had many chances but without the aggressiveness and key shooters that the team had last year, they have not been able to take advantage of the possibilities.

One of the tied games Coppell had this season will be at home this next round which should give Coppell the advantage. It is against Lewisville on March 9, which is also Senior Night.

“Our goal is just to make the playoff round and we are just going to have to work hard and score more these next couple games to get us there,” senior Eric Oesch said.  

Although Coppell is tied for fourth place right now, the team still has a chance to move up to second place in the district by season’ end. There are still four more games to play and anything is possible.