The Cinco Ranch boys soccer team should have been forgiven April 5 if after their regional final victory, thoughts turned to their state semifinal game five days away.

After all, coaches almost unanimously preach not enjoying wins too long and enforce dissecting the task at hand as much as possible.

But after the Cougars upended perennial power Kingwood 3-2 in the 5A-Region III final at Deer Park, coach John Crow cautioned his players several times to enjoy the moment.

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

It was that sort of year for Cinco Ranch, which smashed through uncharted territory. The Cougars went 22-0-6 until a state semifinal loss, winning their first regional championship.

Cinco Ranch lost 2-1 to defending and eventual state champion Flower Mound Marcus in the semifinals April 10.

“I never expected this to happen,” Cougars senior midfielder Juan Fernando Nino said before the state tournament.
 
Cinco Ranch continued a successful tradition for Katy ISD. Morton Ranch advanced to state last year, as did Katy Taylor in 2000 and Mayde Creek in 1995.

The Cougars defeated Mayde Creek, Clear Lake and perennial power Kingwood in the regional tournament.

“We tell the guys, ‘Why not you?’ ” Crow said before the state tournament. “Why not Cinco Ranch? It’s a saying that we have. Just look at these guys. They’re loving it. …

“We’re gonna line up, play our game and just get after them. That’s all you can do.”

Davis, who scored 19 goals this season, scored off a corner kick in the regional semifinal against Clear Lake and added two first-half goals against Kingwood for a 2-0 lead.

Then came perhaps the most memorable goal of the season. The Cougars got a free kick with 26:45 left. 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.”

At state, the Cougars took the lead just two minutes in when Ryan Silveira scored in the second minute off a Josh Reicks header. But Marcus answered quickly and never trailed again.

“It’s just unbelievable. This group is great,” Crow said after the regional final. “We’ve been through a lot and we just work hard. We never give up. They just keep their composure. It’s unbelievable.”

 

MORE CINCO RANCH SOCCER STORIES

Bi-district vs. Cypress Woods (March 25): Newcomer Hill comes through big in playoff win

Regional quarterfinal (April 1): Cinco Ranch pulls out tiebreaker win against Mayde Creek

Cougars shut out Clear Lake in regional semifinal (April 4): The dream rolls on: Cinco Ranch advances to regional final

Regional final victory (April 5): Cougars sprint to early lead, down Kingwood for first regional championship

Athlete of the Week (April 7): Preston Davis

State soccer preview (April 8): First-time qualifiers hit Round Rock riding high

State soccer coverage (April 9): Captains shoulder load during postseason run

State semifinal (April 10): Cougars fall in state semifinals

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