Alamo Heights High School sophomore defender Nick Lammers heads the ball away from the Mules goal in Friday’s game at Dripping Springs. The Mules’ defense has allowed only one goal in the last eight games of district play.

Despite finishing out their season with a pair of wins, the Alamo Heights High School boy’s soccer team narrowly missed qualifying for the District playoffs beginning this week. 

The home game March 14 against Kerrville Tivy was also Parent’s Night, where seniors James Bailey, Nacho Guerrero and Addison McCaleb and parents were recognized.  Heights’ first goal came nine minutes into the first half from McCaleb, with an assist by sophomore midfielder Jorge Zerecero.  McCaleb’s second goal of the evening came on a 10-yard shot 17 minutes into the second half and was assisted by Adrian Alducin. It would be all the Mules would need for a 2-0 win against the Antlers.

Friday, the boys traveled to Dripping Springs to take on the undefeated Tigers in their final district contest of the year.  In a spirited match, the Mules triumphed 1-0 on a Zerecero goal, with an assist by Andrew Bailey, at the 35-minute mark in the first half.  Zerecero outplayed three defenders and finished with a chip shot over the goalkeeper’s head for the goal. Nick Lammers and Jim Thompson both cleared balls near the goal line to help preserve the Heights’ shut-out. 

The win was extra special as Dripping Springs is the 2007 District 27 4-A champions.  Heights finished the season with an overall record of 10-6-3 and a district record of 8-5-3, good for fourth place. The Mules were one point out of the playoffs behind New Braunfels, which finished at 8-4-4.

“I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish with our young, inexperienced team at the Varsity level with only two returning starters,” said Bruce Fink, head coach and founder of the Alamo Heights soccer program. “They were playing better as a team, particularly in the second round of district play where our last seven of eight games were shut-outs with only one goal allowed, compared to nine allowed in the first round. Offensively, we scored seven goals the first half of district play and 17 the second half … marked improvements both offensively and defensively.” 

Next season, the team expects to return with a large core of experienced players, with only three seniors lost to graduation.