Since Temple last won a playoff match in 2002, it has dropped six straight postseason openers.
Coach Oscar Bersoza and the Lady Wildcats believe that streak is in jeopardy when they face District 11-5A champion Mesquite in a Class 5A bi-district playoff at 7:30 p.m. today at Mansfield High School.
“We’ve been building up to this exact point all season,” Bersoza said. “We’re moving the ball around well; team defending is as good as we can get it for us. There are aspects of how we play that I think are what we wanted since the beginning of the season.”
They’ve already won more games (14) than any other Lady Wildcat team this decade thanks to a strong defense that’s held nine opponents scoreless and two more to just one goal. Temple (14-8-1) has allowed just more than one goal per game.
Led by defenders Kaitlin Muniz, Jasmin Ringer, Breanna Antis, Sarah Sypert and goalkeeper Abby Blunt, the Lady Wildcats have kept two of their last three opponents off the board. The other opponent, Belton, which averaged more than 6.5 goals per game in 12-5A play, was held to three goals, which tied its lowest output in district.
Bersoza believes it’s truly been a team effort in the back that’s hampered opponents’ scoring chances.
“They’re able to change (things) in the speed of play and go to whatever we need to change into,” Bersoza said. “They’re coachable kids. They do it well.”
That defense will be especially key, considering the Lady Wildcats average less than two goals per game. It’s not that Temple can’t score, it’s just that it hasn’t always taken advantage of its opportunities.
Any time the Lady Wildcats get a look at the goal against Lady Skeeters (13-6-2), Bersoza wants his team to let it fly.
“When we get opportunities outside the (18-yard box), we can’t work it and play for one more pass,” he said. “We’ve got to shoot.”
The Lady Wildcats hope to duplicate the success they had on both ends of the pitch in non-district play.
Four of Temple’s non-district wins (Alief Elsik, Lufkin, Katy Seven Lakes and Waco) came against playoff-bound teams. The Lady Wildcats also had a scoreless tie against another postseason squad, Conroe Oak Ridge.
“I’ve always said that I think we typically do better against teams that we don’t have a history against,” Bersoza said. “That’s why we’ve played decent teams and done OK against them. And they’re probably better position-to-position than we are.”
The winner of tonight’s match advances to face Richardson Berkner or Garland in an area-round match.
