SWEETWATER – For the first time since 2015, the Brownwood Lions soccer program earned a gold ball, holding on for a 4-3 victory over Lubbock Estacado in Class 4A Region I bi-district playoff action Friday night.
With the win, first-year head coach and Brownwood alum Michael Westerman’s squad will next face San Elizario at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa in area round action.
“To be able to come in and help be an influence and give these boys something they deserve has been incredible,” said Westerman, whose team improved to 8-11-2 on the season. “This is phenomenal as a first-year coach. You could see it with their attitudes how bad they wanted it and you can see how much they’re celebrating. It’s wonderful.”
The Lions raced out to a 3-0 lead before Estacado made a feverish rally.
Brownwood took a 1-0 lead just 5:06 into the contest as Noah Barron scored the first of his two goals off an assist from Dryden Anderson. Then, with 25:11 left before intermission, Luke Moss found the net to boost the advantage to 2-0. A mere 6:05 into the second half, Barron again scored, this time on a header with an assist from Moss, as it appeared the Lions were in firm control.
“All season we’ve really thrived on the attack,” Westerman said. “We have excellent attackers, a lot of speed, a lot of talent and the ability to finish. That was one thing we did know through film and scouting Estacado was there are some holes in their game defensively and our plan was to stay high, press, isolate one on ones and put the ball in the back of the net. They did a great job of that.”
Estacado answered in just 22 seconds and found the net for the first time to trim the deficit to 3-1. Then, at the 24:30 juncture, a free kick from Estacado shaved the Brownwood advantage to 3-2.
Caleb Nelson answered for the Lions with 20:05 to play, scoring from 20 yards out on a shot from the left side that ricocheted off the right upright and into the net. Once more, however, Estacado needed just 15 seconds to answer, creeping within 4-3.
The Lions, however, were able to keep Estacado at bay the rest of the contest to secure the victory.
“We’ve dealt with a lot of adversity and had games where we came from behind,” Westerman said. “We have our highs, we have our lows and we have to work through that. And again our back line, when those last two goals were scored three of our four defenders were new on the back line, so it was a learning process as well and they did an excellent job.
“Lubbock Estacado is a difficult opponent. Dealing with a couple of injuries and missing some key leadership on our team, we knew it was going to be difficult. The plan was to come out with intensity, high pressure, score early, dictate the game, then be able to settle into it.”
