LC-M over Central

[Islander]

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    Leo De La Cruz earned a hat trick by scoring three goals as the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears soccer team cruised to a 4-0 victory over the physical Central Jaguars at the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Stadium in Beaumont on Friday night.  Goalie Christian Diaz two strong saves lead a stingy Bears defense; while Scott Karasik scored a goal for the Bears.  The victory improves the Bears' district record to 3-1.
    Bears Coach Jeremy Watzlavik believed that his team earned "a great win."  The contest was nearly a tale of two halves.  "I thought Central controlled the game in the early portions of the first half.  But, we came out much stronger in the second half," stated Watzlavik.
    Fortunately for the Bears, De La Cruz's play had an impact in both halves.  In the 27th minute, Bears' defender Tommy Jones placed a long throw-in to Kevin Hernandez.  Hernandez passed the ball to De La Cruz, who was approximately 15 yards from the Central goal.  De La Cruz kicked the ball to the right back post to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.  De la Cruz gave credit to Hernandez.  'It was a good assist by Kevin.  Thank God that the ball went in for a goal."
    The game's intensity picked up after the Bears' goal.  With less than one minute remaining in the half, Jones placed a free kick from the 40 yard- line in front of the Jaguar's goal.  When the Jaguar goalie slipped and misplayed the ball, Karasik zipped around him and punched the ball in for a goal and a 2-0 lead.   
    At halftime, Watzlavik made the necessary adjustments that allowed the Bears and De La Cruz to dominate the second half.  The changes allowed the Bears to out-shoot their opponent by an 11-3 margin. 
    At the 44th minute, Bears wing Fabian Mankatt stole the ball from a Jaguar opponent.  Mankatt passed the ball to De La Cruz near the 18-yard line.  De La Cruz outran the Jaguar defense and kicked the ball past the goalie for his second goal of the night.  The score gave the Bears a comfortable 3-0 lead.  Once again, De La Cruz was appreciative of the pass from his teammate.  "Fabian made a nice assist on that play," noted De La Cruz.
    The Bears offense struck again less than a minute later.  Karasik made a hard drive towards the goal and sent a hard shot that deflected off the goalie's hands and drifted towards the Jaguar's goal.  De La Cruz chased down the ball and kicked it into an open net.  De La Cruz proudly stated that he "just tapped it in the goal." 
    The score gave the Bears a 4-0 lead.  Watslavik used the lead to allow his bench to register a large block of playing time.  "I thought the whole team played well.  Leo, with his hat trick, had a phenomenal game.  It was a good game for his confidence."
    Watzlavik was also appreciative of the solid performance by his goalie, Christian Diaz.  "He made a couple of saves tonight that were very impressive."

[DogOne]

Good win for LCM!

Islander - Great write up, as usual.