GONZALES APACHES

Apaches boys, girls team host soccer tournament

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GONZALES — Both the Gonzales boys and girls soccer teams hosted a tournament last weekend at Apache Field, the first in its kind for the girls and the second annual one for the boys. Both teams ended the tournament with much-needed experience as well as some hardware for the trophy case.

Lady Apaches take second in five-team round robin tournament

The Gonzales Lady Apaches placed second, losing only to Giddings in the tournament. In pool play, they knocked off Wharton 9-0, beat Yoakum 2-0 and then lost to Giddings 3-1.

“To play the best that we can, to show people that the Gonzales girls soccer program is up and coming it’s going to be one to be reckoned with,” head coach Keith Kuenzel said. “These girls can play, they’ve put in a lot of work. We have every class from sophomore to senior that contribute quite a bit. I’m proud of them. They don’t have any quit.”

During bracket play, the Lady Apaches beat Wharton again, this time 4-0, before losing 2-0 in the championship game to take second place.

Currently, the Lady Apaches sit at 5-2-1, allowing just six goals while scoring 21 goals this season.

“Our goal was to take a lot of shots, score a lot of goals and we wouldn’t be 5-2-1 if we weren’t scoring goals,” Kuenzel said. “I’m extremely proud of them.”

One of the keys to the Lady Apaches this season is their aggressiveness on the pitch.

“From the very first day I told them we will attack,” Kuenzel said, “that is going to be our defense.”

The Lady Apaches travel to Palacios this weekend for a tournament.

Apaches lose in semifinals

The Gonzales Apaches went unbeaten in the pool play, beating Floresville 6-2, Poteet 9-0 and Columbus 4-0 before knocking out Canyon Lake out the tournament in bracket play 2-1. Then, the Apaches blew a 2-0 first half lead, allowing Wharton to tie 2-2 off an own goal, then losing 5-4 in penalties to be eliminated from their tournament in the semifinals. Wharton went on to beat Giddings in the final game.

“This was to see everybody’s skill, how much depth [we have],” head coach Greg Ramirez said of the tournament. With the practices that they’ve had so far, Ramirez wanted to see how much his young team has retained and to see what needs to be fine-tuned.

The Apaches head coach noted that the team’s passing as well as their willingness to shoot from outside the box were highlights of the tournament. However, allowing that own goal showed Ramirez what needs to be worked on this season.

“Miscommunication led to that own goal,” he said. “That’s one thing that we’re going to have to work on, that’s going to be the key, especially for the defense back there. If we’re going to have a stellar defense throughout the playoffs, communication is going to be [key].”

The Apaches are currently 6-1 overall after beating IDEA Montopolis 6-0. They travel to Pleasanton for a tournament this weekend.

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