High School Soccer

Jordan overcomes Cy-Ridge in extra time, advances to regional quarterfinals

By Tyler Tyre, Sports Editor
Posted 3/28/23

“I was shooting the whole game and I just felt like, one of these has to go in,” Ojeda said. “I hit that one and I just knew immediately that the connection was perfect, and I was so excited when I saw it go in. It was just a great moment for me and for the team.”

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High School Soccer

Jordan overcomes Cy-Ridge in extra time, advances to regional quarterfinals

Posted

Jordan seems to thrive in clutch situations.

The Warriors did it all last year, finding a way into the state tournament in their first year as a varsity program, and they have continued to do the same thing this year, finding ways to win in tough situations and advancing.

Jordan continued to find a way on Tuesday, overcoming two deficits to beat Cy-Ridge 3-2 in extra time and advance to the regional quarterfinals for the second straight season.

“It’s all the kids, they get us through in these tough games time and time again,” said Jordan head coach Jason Meekins. They go out there completely prepared, they do what we ask them to do and they just compete. They know this game isn’t always just about being pretty or being brilliant, it’s just about getting the job done, they train that way and prepare that way and this coaching staff is great as well. It’s all them.”

Jordan was tested all game but still found a way, as the Warriors went back and forth in the first half with Cy-Ridge until the Rams took the lead in the 37th minute on a breakaway goal.

But the Warriors didn’t put their heads down for a single second and fought back to tie things with just three seconds to go in the first half on a goal from Kevin Sanoja from inside the box.

“We just know in these situations that we have to keep our heads and don’t panic,” said Jordan senior center back Ben Bucic. “We’ve been in these games before and gotten through, we’ve practiced for it every day and at the end of the day we just have to go out and do what we do.”

Cy-Ridge put Jordan on the back foot again early in the second half, scoring just a minute into the half, but Jordan again found a way back into things, bringing themselves back into the game and finding the tying goal in the 68th minute when Ben Bucic took a corner kick and headed it into the back of the net.

Things stayed that way the rest of regular time, with the two teams going back and forth but being unable to put chances into the back of the net, but it all changed once full time hit.

Jordan started extra time on the front foot and just a minute into it Macelo Ojeda struck a bullet of a shot from 30-yards out that got past the keeper and into the back of the net to give Jordan it’s first lead of the game. And that’s all the Warriors would need as they held on for the next 19 minutes to clinch the win and advance.

“I was shooting the whole game and I just felt like, one of these has to go in,” Ojeda said. “I hit that one and I just knew immediately that the connection was perfect, and I was so excited when I saw it go in. It was just a great moment for me and for the team.”

The Warriors advance to play the winner of Paetow and Lamar in the regional quarterfinals on Friday, time and location to be determined. The Warriors will be ready, and they know that they have the ability to compete with whoever stands in their way.

“We play in the hardest district in the state of Texas when it comes to soccer,” Ojeda said. “It’s basically been playoffs for us for weeks, this is nothing different. Everything is a battle; we’re used to these close games where we can grind it out to the last minute. We just have to keep finding a way.”

Jordan, Katy ISD, sports, soccer, playoffs, Marcelo Ojeda