Many have heard the cliché ‘third time's a charm,’  but in most situations this scenario doesn’t present itself. That is unless you are referring to the Cinco Ranch boys soccer team, who has faced Cypress Woods on three different occasions this season.

“You know in the playoffs everything is big. We played them (Cy Woods) twice and it is always hard to try and beat a team three times in one season,” Cinco Ranch coach John Crow said.

But that is exactly what happened. In the boys 5A Region III bi-district match up, the Cougars scored in overtime to beat host Cy Woods 1-0. Sophomore Olie Hill scored the game-winning goal within the first two minutes of overtime.

Hill had no varsity experience prior to the game.

“The guys came up big and worked the ball. Olie (Hill) is one of the players we moved up from JV for us and he scored the winning goal so that is exciting for us,” Crow said of his team’s overtime play. “We knew we would have our hands full, but fortunately we got the win and we are happy.”

During regulation, both teams had opportunities to score goals, but fell short. Cy Woods, in the first half, took at least four shots at the goal. Robert Kelley’s one-on-one in transition was probably the best shot the Wildcats had all night.

Cinco Ranch on the other hand, did not attempt many shots. So the necessary halftime adjustments were made.

“We were moving the ball, but weren’t getting the finishes we needed,” Crow said in regards to the Cougars’ first-half showing. “Basically it was our ball movement. The first half we were real slow as far as moving the ball. We were just not playing real smart. In the second half we starting getting more creative with movement up top.”

And the changes were evident because Cinco Ranch had three shots within a matter of minutes. Juan Fernando Nino and Ryan Silveira both made solid attempts at the goal, but Cy Woods goalkeeper Jonathan Leon stood tough for majority of the game.

But let Crow tell it, he anticipated a game of this caliber and knew it would come down to the wire.

“In all honesty, yeah,” Crow said when asked if he expected to game to end like this. “In the playoffs, it is always like this. You don’t take anyone for granted. It doesn’t matter who’s in the playoffs, you play everyone like they are the best team. And tonight with Cy Woods, you have to give it to them because they played their hearts out.”

Cinco Ranch will advance to the area round to play Eisenhower. The Eagles will be coming off a 4-3 victory over Sam Houston and Crow said the game will likely be played on Friday, but time and location was not available at press time.  

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