Harlingen Heartbreaker

Austin and Ethan's soccer team advanced to the Western Districts as an undefeated team. The season had been phenominal and the kids had worked so hard. This was their 5 season together and they were really "getting it". We traveled 5 hours south to Harlingen Texas to compete in the Western District tournament. We we ready for our 3 games on Saturday with hopes of advancing to Sunday and on to state.

Our first game started at 7:30 in the morning, which meant an arrival time of 6:45am!! And it was sooooo cold. There was frost on the ground and my feet were numb within minutes of arriving. Not really fun. The boys were dressed in there under armor and running tights with hats and gloves to try and stay warm. Those running around on the field were the lucky ones!!

We played a great first game, posting a win 4-1. The second game was another story. When we arrived to the field we were surprised to see a team full of young men ready to face our 13 year old boys. They all (except maybe 2-3) looked years older than our boys. And they were good. Come to find out that the team we played would probably be 1 or 2 leagues above us in skill level excpet they don't have the money/time to travel as far as they would have to to compete. So they killed us. Our boys ran their little hearts out and gave it everything they had, but it was clearly not enough. They were outplayed and only managed to score 2 goals to their 7.

After that defeating loss the boys didn't have anything left for the final game that afternoon. Playing three games in one day is so trying, but to have the mental and physical drain from their second game on their backs was tough. We tried everything we could to boost them and encourage them, but they weren't able to "snap out of it" and ended up losing again to a team they have beaten before. With that loss their season was over.

Once the shock wore off the boys were able to see that they had had a wonderful season. They accomplished a lot and ended up 5th in the Western District's. Not many teams can say that!! So it was a good season...and now the boys have one more season together before they split the team, so they are determined to make it past Districts and on to State...Way to go Rangers!!