GIDDINGS — The La Grange High School boys soccer team defeated Giddings High School in penalty kicks Feb. 17 at Buffaloes Stadium. Giddings scored the first goal, then the Leopards were able to respond with a header on a corner kick to tie the game and ultimately outshoot the Buffaloes in penalty kicks.
"Kind of like the first time we played them, it's just an all out brawl," said La Grange head boys soccer coach William McGonagle.
"In both games, we definitely put some good shots on goal, but it's a team game and they have a great keeper. He was kind of our thing that was stumping us. We couldn't get past him and finally, in about the last twelve minutes to find that goal, that was kind of the big moment I think we've been searching for this whole season. That was the big one to get us started, then to be able to fight back right there, just real ly proud of these guys for being great teammates to one another.
Good shoutout to Collin Landis.
Staying over here, staying ready, and the second we went to penalty kicks, he popped up and came up in a big way." Leopards goalkeeper Collin Landis came in for penalty kicks and made a huge, diving stop on Giddings' second kick of the session to help his team seal the victory. "A bunch of adrenaline," Landis said on his mindset going into penalty kicks. "It wasn't much actual thinking, just instincts I guess." Giddings scored their first goal at about the 19 minute mark in the first half after La Grange nearly scored a goal on a save by the Buffaloes six minutes earlier.
This was followed by two lasers on goal from La Grange striker Phillip Arceneaux, one missing just wide right and one hitting the post, and Giddings went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
La Grange put two more shots on goal early in the first half, then the Leopards made a goal on a header from a corner kick to tie it at one with twelve minutes to go in the contest. A close shot on goal that barely missed right and a free kick from Arceneaux that was saved by Giddings sent the match to penalty kicks.
Both teams each scored a goal to start the session before Landis' crucial diving save to give La Grange the advantage. The teams went back on forth on scoring again and Arceneaux made the last shot for the Leopards. Giddings last shot went wide left and the Leopards proceeded to storm the field and celebrate the win.
