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Area teams to travel for postseason decider following hard-fought seasons on the pitch
Two Bastrop County boys soccer teams are preparing for playoff matchups later this week as the Wildcats and Bears earned their postseason berths in a pair of demanding seasons.
ELGIN
The Wildcats finished fourth in district play with a 4-5-3 record and will take on Liberal Arts and Science Academy at 5 p.m. March 20. The teams will meet at Nelson Stadium in Austin.
The Raptors enter the matchup as heavy favorites after finishing first in their district with a near-perfect 9-1-2 record.
LASA is led by senior Kiran Kina, who averages 1.3 goals per game, followed closely by Kieran Tower with 1.2.
Elgin will face a tough challenge offensively. The Raptors recorded 10 shutouts this season with senior goalkeeper Marco Vidal taking up the net.
However, the Wildcats come in with a talented and veteran- filled roster, led by junior Diego Ramirez, who has scored 15 goals on the year.
Elgin is coming off an exhibition warmup game in which it fell to Leander Rouse, 4-1, March 13. LASA defeated Crockett, 4-0, in its final game of the regular season.
Friday night’s winner will face either Randle or a team from the Houston Independent School District March 23 or 24.
BASTROP
The Bears will compete in the postseason for the second consecutive year and will be matched with Pflugerville Connally after finishing 5-4-3, fourth in district.
Bastrop will have its hands full against a familiar foe. The Bears defeated the Cougars last season in the bi-district round of the playoffs, and Connally will be looking to avenge that loss.
Bastrop is led by senior Cayden Justice, who averages 0.9 goals per game, and junior Angel Chavez Hernandez, averaging 0.7.
Both teams finished the season with disappointing stretches. The Bears lost their final two games, while Connally went 0-3-1 in its last four.
The match is set for 7:15 p.m. Friday, March 20, at Manor High School. The winner will face either Terry or an HISD school March 23 or 24.
