Jeff Goolsbey / Times Record News Wichita Falls High School’s Jorge Lopez (9) attempts to score on a header against Aledo’s Kyle Underwood and Willie Maloney (25) in the first half of Tuesday night’s Region I-4A area playoff at Memorial Stadium. Aledo beat the Coyotes 4-1. Jeff Goolsbey / Times Record News Wichita Falls High School's Juan Carlos Hernandez (10) works the ball past Shayne Cardwell of Aledo in the first half of Tuesday night's Region I-4A area playoff game at Memorial Stadium. Jeff Goolsbey / Times Record News Wichita Falls High School's Omar Vera (3) and Aledo's Brian Maloney go for the ball during the first half of Tuesday night's Region I-4A area playoff game at Memorial Stadium. Jeff Goolsbey / Times Record News Taylor Martin (12) of Wichita Falls High School advances the ball past Aledo's Yusef Marwan during Tuesday night's Region I-4A area playoff game at Memorial Stadium.

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March 24, 2010

By Andy Newberry Times Record News

There were several ways to look at Wichita Falls High School’s 2-0 halftime deficit on Tuesday night.

The Coyotes were wishing they could have converted at least one of their three breakaways against the Aledo keeper.

The Aledo Bearcats were wondering what they had to do to solve WFHS keeper Alex Garcia and why they let Juan Carlos Hernandez run free into their box on multiple occasions.

As it turned out, the difference between WFHS being tied 1-1 and down 2-0 proved to be too much to overcome as the Coyotes narrowed the gap to 2-1 early in the second half, but Aledo took advantage of the Coyotes’ offensive plan with two more goals in a 4-1 Region I-4A area victory at Memorial Stadium.

Hernandez tallied the only goal for the Coyotes (14-7-2) in the 42nd minute as he beat the keeper to the ball and tapped it in for his 17th goal.

With four minutes to play in the first half there was a two-goal swing as Hernandez chipped his breakaway attempt over the goal. Aledo quickly transitioned to offense, and Diego Saldana of the Coyotes was called for a foul in the penalty box.

Aledo’s Matt Nickell converted the PK in the 38th minute to double the lead to 2-0. Yusef Marwan had knocked in a rebound in the 23rd minute for a 1-0 lead.

Despite the advantage after a half with the wind at his back, Aledo coach Derek Vierling wasn’t too pleased with his team at that point.

“I wasn’t comfortable at all,” Vierling said. “We did some chewing at halftime.

“That’s a good team and Sam (Reed) is a great coach. I knew they’d come out with something in the second half. We were able to make those adjustments, and that’s how we were able to get those two goals.”

Vierling might have felt better at half if not for Alex Garcia, who batted a couple of balls over the net and made good reactions to stop some more great chances from the Bearcats.

“We were peppering him like crazy,” Vierling said. “He’s parrying them over the goal. He made a set-piece save. He’s doing it all. They’re a good team. They’re in the playoffs for a reason. It was a lot of fun.”

But after the initial second-half surge by the Coyotes, Aledo responded and controlled the game in the midfield. When the Bearcats’ Nickell scored a header off Thomas Davis’ corner kick and then Davis scored himself less than two minutes apart, it was over.

Reed was proud that his team kept pushing and making runs, but the Bearcats stayed sharp throughout and didn’t give anything away.

“That PK definitely hurt us,” Reed said. “In the first half we had three breakaways and maybe it’s different if we get those. I don’t think four goals is fair to Alex. He made some great saves and probably saved some he shouldn’t have, and there was no way he could save those four.

“In the first half we missed three where we got in behind them. If we hit a couple of those it’s a different story. Some of that comes with experience. And obviously Aledo is good, they’ve lost one time. They beat us in the midfield.”

Aledo (21-1-1) will play Birdville in the Sectional round.

Old High has a young team, but four seniors (Jose Villegas, Jorge Lopez, Taylor Martin and Kevin Gonzalez) played their final match for the Coyotes. Lopez led the team with 21 goals.

“It shows us what we need to do to get past this,” Reed said. “I’m definitely proud of the guys and we had a good season. They were still working when we were down 4-1.”