LA GRANGE — The La Grange High School boys soccer team defeated Rockdale High School March 7 at Leopards Field in La Grange by a final score of 2-0. The Leopards scored an ear- ly goal in the first 12 minutes of the game, then kept their cushion with their defense throughout the game and added another goal in the last minute to put the icing on the cake.
“I’m not gonna lie, that had the potential to be somewhat of a letdown game,” said La Grange head soccer coach William Mc-Gonagle.
“This is a team that’s at the bottom of the district, but is still very capable. I don’t feel like
we necessarily played up to our standard tonight, but we definite -
ly did enough. Fought for each other enough, connected enough passes, played well enough de - fensively to come out with the win. Really started with a full speed, 100% effort by number nine, Jesus Soto, who's a senior. He really got us started and go - ing in the first half. Then number six C.J. Davis, who’s a senior as well, kind of closed it out. That was a good feeling for those two seniors in their last district home game to go take over that game when the team really needed it.”
La Grange's Jesus Soto scored the first goal for the Leopards at the 28:24 mark in the first half from the 10-yard line, a score that was much needed as La Grange didn't score again until the final minute. "Tonight's offense was just us trying to do what we do,” Soto said. "My teammate, Johnny, put a cross when he went down the line and it went over the defender.
I saw it going over the defender and I shot it. I’m really glad it went our way tonight."
Soto’s early goal gave La Grange a 1-0 advantage before putting three more shots on goal in the first half while controlling the ball on offense to maintain their lead at halftime. Leopards striker Phillip Arceneaux hit a hard shot that was just wide right of the goal with about 26 minutes to go in the second half. This was followed by another shot on goal that was stopped on a sliding save from Rockdale a couple minutes later. A pretty even rest of the half made way for La Grange senior forward C.J. Davis to go on a fast break and get a goal at the 1:44 mark to ensure a 2-0 victory for the Leopards.
