Below you will find coverage of the 2024 UIL Boys Soccer Regional Finals. This post will be updated as more games are completed.
To check the results of boys soccer finals in other regions, click here. For coverage of the women's district tournament, click here.
Class 6A Area II
ROUND ROCK โ Jesus Diaz once again stood at the goal line without a defender to support him. The previous day, even 100 minutes of play could not separate the Duncanville team from its regional semifinal opponent, and the game went to penalties. The senior goalie stopped the first two shots in the Panthers' 4-1 shootout win.
On Saturday, his moment came in the 22nd minute. A foul in the box away from the ball resulted in Cypress Woods attempting a penalty. Similar to his two saves on Friday, Diaz leapt to his left to deflect the spot kick. This was the Wildcats' best chance for a tying goal all day.
For the first time in 38 years, Duncanville (20-2-3) takes on Cypress Woods (17-5-4), 1-0, in the Region II final Saturday afternoon at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex. They once again qualified for the state tournament. Diaz had a stingy defensive performance with a penalty save in the first half, giving the Panthers their fourth clean sheet in five playoff games this year.
The Panthers will look to make their fourth-ever state tournament appearance next week at Georgetown's Birkelbach Field. The last tournament in 1986 also gave them their only state title.
“We knew how long it took,” head coach Nuno Passos said. “It's just time. They're a great football team, so it's time for them to get the spotlight they deserve.”
Junior midfielder Leonardo Coronado scored Duncanville's first goal just minutes into the game. He almost scored his second goal shortly after, but was unable to end a melee near the goal. Since then, Passos said Duncanville has understood it has to absorb pressure and aims to fight back as much as possible.
The only blemish for the Panthers came on a penalty kick in the 22nd minute. But Diaz, who commanded the box throughout the game, taking errant crosses and taking 50-50 balls when needed, stepped up to keep Cypress Woods off the scoreboard.
Duncanville fended off the urgency of Cypress Woods' offense as the second half progressed, even though multiple players had yellow cards. In the first 30 minutes after halftime, the Panthers did not allow a shot on goal. They stepped in front of passing lanes, blocked shot attempts, hounded Cypress Woods' midfielders and forced turnovers, forcing inconsistent play overall. When the ball finally reached Dias, he dove to his right and easily slotted in a low drive from just outside the box.
Passos lamented that the Panthers have lost in recent years to teams they expected to eventually reach the state tournament. This year's group is more focused at the right time, he said after Friday's regional semifinals.
They went into the playoffs with an underdog mindset, Passos, who finished third in district, added Saturday. But the Panthers, who allowed just one run in five postseason games, will next week have a chance to give Passos, who reached 300 wins earlier this season, his first state title.
“It would be perfect for me,” Passos said. “I've been chasing this for 20 years. We've come close, but never this close. For me, it would complete my career.”
โ Alo Majumdar
On Twitter: @SportsDays
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