Tompkins closes out district with win over Mayde Creek

By Tyler Tyre, Sports Editor
Posted 3/11/22

“We’ve put a lot of emphasis on transitioning from our defense to our offense,” Jones said. “It’s a thing we’ve focused on a lot lately and we did a good job of that tonight.”

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Tompkins closes out district with win over Mayde Creek

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Luis Lugo knows how important it is to take every game seriously.

Even with a playoff spot locked up heading into the last game of district 19-6A play, the Tompkins junior captain and his teammates knew they had things they could work on, and could build momentum against Mayde Creek.

The Falcons came out 5-2 winners over the Rams on Friday in the final game of district play, closing out the regular season on a positive note before heading into the playoffs.

“We knew that we couldn’t take our foot off the gas today,” Lugo said. “It’s exciting, especially heading to the playoffs to be able to close things out with a win. I’m just excited that we were able to end things in district on a positive note so we can carry that forward.”

The Falcons set the tone from the get-go, pressing Mayde Creek at every opportunity and possessing the ball for large chunks of the game.

“I think we possessed the ball really well today,” said Tompkins head coach Tom Jones. “That’s one thing we’ve focused on, we had been struggling in the attacking third as well, but we did a lot better there tonight, creating and finishing chances. Those two things were really good for us.”

It didn’t take long for Tompkins to get the scoring started, as just seven minutes into the game Ojas Shandilya hit a left-footed shot from 25 yards out and scored, scorching the ball into the back of the net.

Jose Ramos doubled the Tompkins lead just nine minutes later when he latched onto a corner kick and headed the ball past the goalie and Ramos added a second in the 31st minute when he curled a shot past the keeper from the left side to make things 3-0 off an assist from Lugo.

“We’ve put a lot of emphasis on transitioning from our defense to our offense,” Jones said. “It’s a thing we’ve focused on a lot lately and we did a good job of that tonight.”

Lugo notched a goal for himself after that, getting on the end of a cross in the 37th minute to make things a four goal lead for Tompkins heading into halftime.

Ramos started the season on the wing, but Tompkins has switched their formation to two strikers up top recently, and Lugo and Ramos have fed off each other as they share the position.

“We’ve been working together since freshman year together, so it’s just been wonderful to be able to play with him up top,” Lugo said. “Every day in summer, after school each day, we know how to work together, and we complement each other’s games. He’s quick, I have good technique and we both have some really good traits, so it just works.”

Tompkins got one more goal in the second half, as Bryce Shockley got a tap-in after a Mayde Creek save that bounced right back to him.

Mayde Creek got two goals in the second half, and Jones knows there are still some things the team can do to improve.

“Defensively we have to get better and then we can’t turn the ball over as much as we did either,” Jones said. “We still have a couple issues we have to work on.”

Tompkins will have a week of rest and preparation before the playoffs start and they hope to take advantage of it.

“We need that rest week,” Lugo said. “Tuesday’s and Fridays are fun, but it’s tough, it’s a grind. But having this week of spring break to prepare, that’s when everyone starts clocking in and getting in that playoff mentality and it lets us get our bodies rea

Tompkins, Mayde Creek, Katy ISD, sports, soccer, high school, boys