One thing is certain when Mount Pleasant and Longview meet in a soccer matchup: it will usually be a tight game.
Tuesday’s matchup was no different as the two teams battled for two halves and two extra time periods without anyone scoring.
Both goalkeepers – Bobby Gandara for the TIgers and Erik Torrez for the Lobos – were stone walls in front of the net. Both teams had opportunities to score, but every time in regulation, the keepers turned shot after shot aside.
The rivalry game went to a shootout to decide a winner and Longview edged the Tigers, 3-1, in the shootout.
Gaizka Gutierrez scored Mount Pleasant’s shootout goal, but Torrez turned away shots from Junior Martinez, Erick Soto and Rogelio Rios and Longview’s Jesus Munoz, Alex Flores and Victor Aguilar scored to decide the back-and-forth matchup.
Gandara came up with a huge save on Flores at the end of the second extra time period to send the game to a shootout.
JD Mendoza, Francisco Aquihua, Rios and Gutierrez all had runs at the goal in regulation, but none could slot a shot home.
The loss was Mount Pleasant’s first of district play.
The JV Tigers handed the Lobos their first loss of the season in a 1-0 decision. The Tigers scored early and their defense stopped the Lobo offense from making a run.
The Tigers held off Hallsville last Friday, 1-0, and are 3-1 in district play.
Mount Pleasant is off until Tuesday when they travel to Texas High.