The Cinco Ranch boys soccer team felt like it had at least one edge entering Saturday’s 5A-Region III championship against Kingwood.

Not only did the Cougars play two hours earlier than Kingwood in Friday’s regional semifinals, but the Mustangs played a physical 100 minutes in their overtime win against Strake Jesuit.

“You could tell they were worn down from playing at 7:30 (p.m. Friday) and we played at 5:30 and they had the extra 20 minutes,” Cinco senior Juan Fernando Nino said. “We had more energy, it seemed, in the first half.”

That advantage was palpable, not just perceived, and it helped the Cougars implement a history-making gameplan.

Preston Davis scored two first-half goals and Nino added a third off a free kick late to seal the Cougars’ 3-1 victory at Deer Park ISD’s Abshier Stadium for their first regional championship.

“It’s just unbelievable. This group is great,” Cinco Ranch (22-0-6) coach John Crow said. “We’ve been through a lot and we just work hard. We never give up. They just keep their composure. It’s unbelievable.”

Cinco Ranch will play Lewisville Marcus (24-3-3) in a state semifinal at 4 p.m. Thursday at Round Rock.

Davis made it 1-0 midway through the first half, punching home a second-chance shot off David Russo’s assist.

“We knew we were gonna have to take it to the corners and do a front-post cross. If we were gonna score, that’s how we were gonna have to do it. That’s how we scored (Friday) night (against Clear Lake),” said Davis, who scored his second goal with 4:19 left in the half. “Russo put a nice cross in the middle; (he had) a nice touch. Then the keeper made an awesome save but we bobbled it and we were able to put the ball in.”

Josh Reicks assisted on the second goal.

Patrick McLean pulled the Mustangs (27-2-1) within 2-1 4 minutes, 25 seconds into the second half off a penalty kick.

Then with 26:45 left, Cinco Ranch regained a two-goal lead on Nino’s free kick. Bailey Maupin screened Nino, creating enough confusion for Nino to sneak his kick to the top of the net and send the Cougars crowd into near-delirium.

“I’ve been working on (free kicks) and we set the wall really well,” Nino said. “I hit it well. Luckily it hit the post. It wasn’t even that a hard shot. It just went off the inside of my foot and just placed it in there.”

McLean scored his second goal with 2:40 left, but Cinco Ranch never allowed another meaningful scoring chance.

Almost as soon as the game ended, some Cougars’ thoughts turned to next week. Crow, however, cautioned them several times to enjoy the moment.

“We’ve never been this far and we’re not going away,” Davis said. “That’s how we’re gonna practice this week and that’s how we’re gonna keep playing.”

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