Boys soccer: A&M shades Oak Ridge 3-2

OAK RIDGE NORTH, Texas – Once again, the Oak Ridge High School boys’ soccer team played well but came up just short. The War Eagles dropped a 3-2 decision at home Friday to A&M Consolidated.

“They’ve played well,” said Gareth Glick, in his first year as head boys’ soccer coach at Oak Ridge. “They’re tired of me having the same old deal, ‘hey we played well and just didn’t get the result.’ It was the same with College Park; the same thing on Wednesday night against Conroe as well.”

Marcos Chavez scored on a penalty kick and Ian Berns added a goal and the teams were tied, 2-2, at halftime.

But the Tigers, now 2-1-1 in District 14-5A play, scored early on in the second half and kept the pressure on the War Eagles over the final 40 minutes.

“Physically, I think we were kind of spent today, playing on short notice (after Wednesday),” Glick said. “(A&M) is not a team you want to play when you’re physically spent because they are very athletic and their tempo is ridiculously fast. They have the fastest tempo game that we’ve played this year.”

Chavez made a second attempt at a penalty kick in the waning minutes of the match. But his potential match-tying blast bounced off the left post.

“That’s tough for him to take a second (penalty kick),” Glick said. “It’s a little difficult when you’ve already taken one. The goalkeeper has a good idea where you’re going. You kind of change your mind and second-guess yourself a little bit.

“But to his credit, no one else stepped up to take the penalty. So you can’t blame someone for that. (Chavez) played well today.”

The War Eagles (3-5-5, 1-2-1) visit Lufkin (7-3-4, 2-1-1) for a 6 p.m. Tuesday match.