Spring Creek’s Gustabo Vargas Fajardo, left, keeps the ball away from J.H. Rose defender Jackson McCarren during second-half action Monday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
SEVEN SPRINGS — Don’t overlook the big picture.
It’s a constant daily reminder for Spring Creek, which has faced a non-conference boys’ soccer schedule stacked with defending conference champions and 2023 playoff qualifiers this season.
The difficult slate serves one purpose.
“All of this prepares us for conference [play] and our goal [to win the title], so we don’t forget that,” Gators head coach Miguel Torres said Monday evening after a 5-2 loss to J.H. Rose.
“All of these games are learning lessons.”
This matchup contested in fall-like temperatures echoed Torres’ sentiments.
The Gators struck first.
Senior tri-captain Homar Lopez converted a one-touch strike inside the 18-yard box about five minutes after kickoff.
The Rampants settled down.
They connected passes from the back, worked the ball through the middle and extended Spring Creek’s defense. The methodical, patient scheme paid dividends.
Daniel Olaopa knotted the game at 1-all on a corner kick. Teammates Will Malpass and Elliott Flinchbaugh hooked up on a beautifully-played cross from the right side.
Julius Jones supplied a penalty kick.
“I think they were more aggressive on the ball and being clinical with it … putting some chances they had in the back of the net,” Torres said. “They did a great job putting pressure on us and it affected our play. We weren’t able to deal with that. The way they move the ball is always going to be top-notch, so that’s a credit to them.”
Lopez closed the gap to 3-2 before halftime when he sent a 30-yard bomb to the upper right 90 of the net. Rampants keeper Timothy Gates had no chance to stop the curling shot.
The score didn’t surprise Torres.
He felt the Gators missed some opportunities that could have changed the complexion of the game. During his halftime talk, he used cones to show how the team needed to move on the field in the second half.
“We said not to back down from them physically, be aggressive with them ball to ball on the 50-50 balls,” Torres said. “The second half was about them being able to move the ball well and us not being able to handle that pressure. It was going to take a lot out of our players to hold that.
“I told them the next goal [after halftime] determines a lot in the second half. They were able to get the goal. All the credit to them.”
Jones scored around the 45-minute mark.
Teammate Landen Lucas provided the visitors’ final goal just before time expired. The Rampants exited “The Swamp” with a 4-4-1 worksheet, while the Gators dipped to an uncharacteristic 2-6-1.
“The learning curve will continue throughout the season,” Torres said. “I told the boys it’s hard, not to get discouraged [and] pick your head up. We’ll come out tomorrow, we’ll go to work in practice and prepare for Wallace-Rose Hill.”
The reigning East Central 2A champ comes calling Wednesday evening. Kickoff is 6 p.m.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
