ODESSA, TX — The Brownwood Lions soccer program made history Friday by beating El Paso Bowie in a regional semifinal shootout after the game was tied 3-3 at the end of overtime.
It was a game that would give even the healthiest person a cardiac event.
It was the second time this week Brownwood was involved in a game that ended with a penalty kick shootout.
The Lions started off the first half with a goal from Issac Morales in the 15th minute. Into the second half, things started to get interesting after Bowie got one into the net with about 27 minutes left in the game.
Brownwood’s Aiden Jimenez scored a goal about three minutes later to give the Lions the 2-1 advantage with 24:24 remaining in the game. Then, with 3:22 left on the clock, Brownwood committed a penalty in the box which set the Bears up with a penalty kick. Bowie sank the goal to tie things up, 2-2. The clock would run out, which took the game into overtime.
After the first overtime period was scoreless, Bowie’s David Cadena scored about a minute into the second OT for a -2 lead.
Now fans started to sweat as the clock continued to trickle down into the last minute and a half. Then, the Lions received a gift in the form of a hand ball committed by Bowie in the box. On the PK, Morales’s leg was true, and all of a sudden, the game was tied at 3-3. The second OT ended without another score, and that meant another PK shootout.
Enter Brownwood's sophomore goalie, Hudson Fry, whose coach has all the confidence in the world in him.
“I’ve said it time and time again, we’ve got the best keeper in the state of Texas,” Brownwood head soccer coach Michael Westerman said, “He’s only a sophomore, so I’m so thankful I'll have him for the next two years after this. We finish all our practices with PKs, and the majority of the time Hudson Fry gets the better of us. This is, I think, the fourth time this season that we’ve gone into (PKs), and we’re 4-0. It came down to him making saves, and I’m extremely proud of that kid.”
Fry blocked all four attempts Bowie had, while Brownwood scored on three of its kicks, which was enough to win the game without even going to the fifth shooter.
Including Friday, Fry has only given up 15 goals all season long.
It’s also worth noting that Fry wasn’t playing at 100% as he tested positive for the flu earlier this week.
Westerman also spoke about Morales, who scored two goals, including the PK to get to the shootout.
“He’s a senior who’s just a phenomenal kid and athlete,” Westerman said, “He’s really stepped up big in the postseason. He scored the game-tying goal against Lake Worth to send us into pens, then ended up scoring the game-winning pen, then was able to produce the two goals tonight. His role tonight was huge; it always is for us.”
Brownwood made history by advancing to the regional final for the first time in program history. The Lions will next play Bridgeport, which ended Brownwood's run last season. Brownwood is 15-1-2, while Bridgeport is 19-3.
The regional final is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday in Stephenville with the winner moving on to the state semifinals.
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