KILGORE It would be easy for David Garcia to look around the field and have a flashback. <\/p>\n
It wouldn't be one just from this past season, but a memory from eight or more years ago. <\/p>\n
\"Since our rec teams, U-8, U-10, our team was called 'Little Mexico,\" Garcia, a four-year starter for the Kilgore Bulldogs, said. \"We've got that chemistry with one another, eight years of it. <\/p>\n
\"It's not just the defense, this team has been together for a while.\" <\/p>\n
Coupled with the long history of playing alongside one another has come a large amount of wins. Today marks the third-straight season that the Bulldogs will compete in the regional tournament. <\/p>\n
Kilgore meets Dallas A Plus Academy at 4 p.m. today in a Class 4A, Region II semifinal at Tyler's Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. <\/p>\n
\"We don't get down on one another and we've got great communication,\" fellow defender and senior Mateo Meraz said. \"Four-straight defenders together on a team that we've been on since we played city league. <\/p>\n
\"That helps the chemistry.\" <\/p>\n
Kilgore, which enters today with an 18-5-2 record, has a high-flying offense with 14 different goal scorers led by 18 each from sophomore Elian Torres and senior Yonatan Contreras and 14 different players with assists. <\/p>\n
That offense is matched by the Bulldog defense with a back line of Garcia, Meraz, Jordi Contreras and Daniel Stifford who, alongside keeper Kaleb Jett have worked 11 shutouts on the season and four total goals through three playoff games. <\/p>\n
\"We just feed off another's energy,\" Meraz said. \"It's a matter of matching one another and we've done that this season.\" <\/p>\n
Added third-year head coach Austin Walker: \"David and Mateo's leadership is excellent. Jordi has stepped into his role well and it's been a smooth transition for him. Daniel Stifford and Jaime Veloz have rounded out that back four, or when we drop five, making them very strong.\" <\/p>\n
Not much is known about the Bulldogs' next opponent Dallas A Plus Academy, which took down Terrell, 1-0, in the regional quarterfinal round. The Knights come in with a 13-3 record and a 63-15 goals for\/goals allowed mark. <\/p>\n
\"We don't know a lot about them,\" Walker said. \"They tend to pack the middle and don't play outside as much, which is good for us because that's where we like to go. <\/p>\n
\"They're very physical and very high pressure all of the time. They're quick to press and like to get up in people's faces.\" <\/p>\n
Kilgore enters today with momentum on its side having taken down defending state champion Palestine this past Tuesday with a convincing 4-2 win. It avenged a loss to the Wildcats this past season in a shootout in the state semifinals. <\/p>\n
\"I feel like we've been pretty focused for a few weeks now,\" Garcia said. \"Palestine, they were a rival and we knew what we had to do. <\/p>\n
\"We beat them and now it's time to keep going.\" <\/p>\n
Tuesday may as well be as far away as the state semifinal game a year ago. <\/p>\n
\"It really gave us a boost of confidence,\" Meraz added. \"We've got a lot of momentum behind us with some great practices. It's going to to take us forward.\" <\/p>\n
The goal, however, lies ahead of this coming weekend. <\/p>\n
\"We want to get back to where we've been,\" Walker said. \"To do that, we've got to play this game right now. <\/p>\n
\"We can't let that Palestine win be a high point for us. Yes, it's exciting. Yes, we beat the team that knocked us out. There's more to be played and the job is not over yet.\" <\/p>\n
CLASS 4A, REGION II TOURNAMENT <\/p>\n
Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, Tyler <\/p>\n
SEMIFINALS, TODAY <\/p>\n
BOYS <\/p>\n
Dallas A Plus Academy (13-3) vs. Kilgore (18-5-2), 4 p.m. <\/p>\n
Irving Ranchview (19-1-1) vs. Chapel Hill (16-7-1), 6:30 p.m. <\/p>\n
FINAL, SATURDAY <\/p>\n
Semifinal winners, 1:30 p.m. <\/p>\n
GIRLS <\/p>\n
SEMIFINALS, TODAY <\/p>\n
Mabank (19-5) vs. Athens (14-10-1), 11 a.m. <\/p>\n
Terrell (23-5) vs. Palestine (16-7-5), 1:30 p.m. <\/p>\n
FINAL, SATURDAY <\/p>\n
Semifinal winners, 11 a.m. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Read this article: KILGORE It would be easy for David Garcia to look around the field and have a flashback. It wouldn't be one just from this past season, but a memory from eight or more years ago. Continue reading
\nTeam chemistry key to Kilgore's soccer success - Longview News-Journal<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"