Vandegrift Gives Flower Mound Marcus All It Can Handle In Early Season Draw

The 2020 UIL boys soccer season was eight days old when Austin Vandegrift, Lake Travis and Westlake kicked off their co-hosting duties at the fourth annual Austin Lakes Elite Showcase. One of the opening matches resulted in a back-and-forth 2-2 draw between Austin Vandegrift (0-2-2) and Flower Mound Marcus (3-0-1) at Ed W. Monroe Memorial Stadium on Thursday.

"We lost like seven starters [from] last season, so we're just a new team," said Austin Vandegrift soccer player Ethan Dacaret. "It's been a tough road so far, but, this game, especially going up against good opposition, is a really good way to build chemistry with the other players and...get to know each other better as a team and progress into district with [a] better attitude and better mentality."

Austin Vandegrift, who finished its 2019 season in the UIL 6A Region II bi-district round, started to strike at the Flower Mound Marcus goal in the fifth and sixth minutes, and finished what it started on Sam Galyen's go-ahead scoring kick at the 7:25 mark of the match.

"We were able to put the back line in a compromising position and the goalie got a bad clearance, and it came to my feet, so I took my chance," said Galyen. "And I was glad that I could put it away."

Flower Mound Marcus, who advanced to the 2019 UIL 6A Region I Quarterfinal, was expected to bounce back and did so in a similar fashion. It didn't have a lot of early shots at Austin Vandegrift's goal, but found some opportunities in the middle part of the first half. That included a game-tying goal at the 20:37 mark.

The teams attacked more in the second half, so additional goals were added to the scoreboard. Dacaret, who was named the VYPE Player of the Game, scored at the 51:27 mark of the match to give Austin Vandegrift another lead at 2-1, and Porter Pomykal answered with a late Flower Mound Marcus goal to knot up the score at the 79:46 mark.

"It was really cool because I usually play left wing, but today we played a different formation," Dacaret said of his score. "So, I just saw the opportunity to cut in [and] swing it with my right foot. Luckily, it went in."

The teams played to a 80-minute regulation draw, but Austin Vandegrift coach Bobby Courtney thought his players took advantage of the time on the field.

"I was excited that we were able to compete," said Courtney. "I think when you play better teams, it's easy to get in your head. I was excited that we were able to execute the game plan and organize our defense. Players that normally would not have had the chance came in and were able to step up and make an impact, so it was an all-around team effort and I really enjoyed watching the guys compete."

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