By Moses Leos III
A seven game Lehman Lady Lobos win streak proved no match Monday for the power of the 14-6A district champion Westlake Chaparrals.
A pair of first-half goals gave Westlake the edge as they defeated Lehman 3-1 in the regular season finale at Lobo Field.
While the Lady Lobos’ win streak was snapped, Lehman head coach Nauri Garcia called the loss a “blessing” as they ready for their playoff game against Round Rock Thursday.
“It’s kind of a blessing in disguise, this loss,” Garcia said. “It says, ‘okay, let’s get back to work.’”
Garcia said Westlake was the “strongest team we’ve faced all year, for a second time,” on the offensive end.
Westlake showed its scoring prowess when the Chaps took a 1-0 lead in the first half. Lehman, however, answered right back roughly five minutes later.
Scoring the equalizer was senior Riley Blok, who took advantage of a poorly cleared ball from Westlake’s goalkeeper.
“It landed right at her feet and she didn’t hesitate. She knew it was an open net and she shot it straight in,” Garcia said. “It was a little luck, but it was an experienced senior player knowing the goalkeeper was out of her goal.”
Garcia said the Lobos were in sync in the first half, possessing the ball effectively against Westlake’s defense.
He also said the passing was a “little better” and the Lady Lobos “weren’t as pinned down.”
“Position-wise everyone was doing their job,” Garcia said.
Lehman and Westlake entered halftime tied 1-1. But the Chaparrals flexed their muscles in the second half, scoring a pair of goals to escape past Lehman.
According to Garcia, the team looked out of sync in the final 40 minutes. He said the Lady Lobos tried to go forward, rather than opening the width of the field.
“We went into the game focused and determined that it was work and we needed to get it,” Garcia said. “But it was the first time we played together in two weeks. We’ll go back to the practice field and work on it.”
Lehman’s focus now shifts to Round Rock, which are the Lady Lobos’ bidistrict round playoff opponent on Thursday.
Garcia said focusing on slowing down opponents’ attacks, while also playing faster will be two keys Lehman will focus on. He said “a plus going into the playoffs” has been Lehman’s ability to stay close to attacking forwards.
Getting the ball into the scoring third, along with passing upfield were also factors he said will be worked on.
But he was proud of his senior class as the regular season came to a close.
“They have all accepted roles on the team and have gone forward with it,” he said. “They have adapted to situations that have come our way.”
