Photos by Nicole Flowers
January 29, 2024
Bandera boys soccer takes down rival Hondo
By Brady Keane
The Bandera Prophet
The Bandera boys soccer team tied San Antonio Memorial and recorded a home win over rival Hondo last week, bringing its record to 3-4-2 on the season with district play rapidly approaching.
The Bulldogs opened the week with a 2-2 tie against San Antonio Memorial, overcoming a slow start in the first half. Junior Jayce Knowles made a clutch play on a through ball from senior Hudson Jackson with less than 10 minutes left in the game to tie things up at 2-2, and junior goalie Connor Garrett made a number of crucial saves to keep Memorial in check from start to finish.
“We played well against Memorial,” Bandera Head Coach Westley Miller said. “We were more aggressive on the ball and started playing better as a team. Jace did a great job tracking the ball in the air and getting a foot on it to give us his second and the tying goal of the game.”
Bandera went on to hold Hondo scoreless in a 2-0 win over the Owls at Bulldog Stadium on Friday, avenging a devastating 6-5 loss last season. Knowles scored the lone goal of the first half on an assist from sophomore Quinn King, and the Bulldogs continued to dominate the possession into the second half before gaining some breathing room on a nice goal from King that fell just inside the left post.
Jackson had a strong defensive game for the Bulldogs, helping to keep the Owls off the scoreboard in the win.
“It was a good win vs Hondo this year,” Miller said. “We were able to limit their possessions and shots on goal. It was a slow night for Connor Garrett, our goalkeeper, and when he has a slow night it's a good night for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs will be back in action at home against Pearsall on Tuesday before shifting focus to the District 26-4A schedule. Bandera will host Davenport on Feb. 6, in the district opener.
“Senior Night is Tuesday against Pearsall,” Miller said. “They are a team we have already seen this year so the team is pretty confident coming into the game. I'm looking for players to polish up in some areas we are lacking before heading into district play. If everything goes well on Senior Night we should head into district play at 4-4-2.”
The Bulldogs opened the week with a 2-2 tie against San Antonio Memorial, overcoming a slow start in the first half. Junior Jayce Knowles made a clutch play on a through ball from senior Hudson Jackson with less than 10 minutes left in the game to tie things up at 2-2, and junior goalie Connor Garrett made a number of crucial saves to keep Memorial in check from start to finish.
“We played well against Memorial,” Bandera Head Coach Westley Miller said. “We were more aggressive on the ball and started playing better as a team. Jace did a great job tracking the ball in the air and getting a foot on it to give us his second and the tying goal of the game.”
Bandera went on to hold Hondo scoreless in a 2-0 win over the Owls at Bulldog Stadium on Friday, avenging a devastating 6-5 loss last season. Knowles scored the lone goal of the first half on an assist from sophomore Quinn King, and the Bulldogs continued to dominate the possession into the second half before gaining some breathing room on a nice goal from King that fell just inside the left post.
Jackson had a strong defensive game for the Bulldogs, helping to keep the Owls off the scoreboard in the win.
“It was a good win vs Hondo this year,” Miller said. “We were able to limit their possessions and shots on goal. It was a slow night for Connor Garrett, our goalkeeper, and when he has a slow night it's a good night for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs will be back in action at home against Pearsall on Tuesday before shifting focus to the District 26-4A schedule. Bandera will host Davenport on Feb. 6, in the district opener.
“Senior Night is Tuesday against Pearsall,” Miller said. “They are a team we have already seen this year so the team is pretty confident coming into the game. I'm looking for players to polish up in some areas we are lacking before heading into district play. If everything goes well on Senior Night we should head into district play at 4-4-2.”