Fighting for the district championship, and a spot at playoffs, the varsity boys’ soccer team went up against the Vandegrift Vipers on Tuesday, March 11. The boys’ team utilized different passing techniques to maintain possession and create opportunities for a shot at goal helping them take the 2-0 win against the Vipers.

“It felt amazing, especially the energy after the game, and during the season,” Lucas Casco-Arias Gunz ‘27 said. “We’ve always been striving for this, obviously we got more [to go]. We want to make it to state and we want to win to state. I’m a junior, [so] it’s been a good precedent to what I want to do next year for the team and also make it to playoffs and win district again.”

The Warriors led the kick off, but immediately lost the ball to an aggressive Viper defense. Throughout the first quarter, both teams utilized long balls. Sharing possession, both teams used equally physical defensive strategies, often having their respective defenses push up as far as the halfway line. However, the stalemate would be shattered with a header by Santaingo Pena ‘27 pulling the Warriors up 1-0 early into the first half.. 

“I thought it (Santiago’s goal) was great for our team,” Kaz Seyhoon ‘26 said. “It gave us a boost and confidence for sure and helped us go and get another one and ultimately win the game.”

Following Pena’s goal, the Warriors made use of progressing plays through their midfield. Nico Hamelin ‘27 controlled much of the midfield helping to maintain composure, advance the play, and make crucial passes towards goal. In response, the Viper defense became far more aggressive, fouling many Westwood players. Defensively, the Warriors were able to keep the ball predominantly in the Viper half, with players like Hunter Brown ‘26 making crucial tackles and clearances. Warrior defense also used both the left and right side wings to move the ball down the field and into the box, eventually leading to a goal by Seyhoon, 2-0.

“I felt amazing that I could help the team out, and it felt great to keep a clean sheet as well,” Seyhoon said. “Nico [helped us a lot],  [as] he tracked back a lot and helped us in defense, and I think that helped sustain attacks and keep the ball in their half most of the game.”

Flustered by the pressure, the Viper defense continued to build the ball from the back and make multiple efforts at long balls towards their wings, none of which were successful. On the other hand, the Warriors were able to maintain their momentum and develop multiple plays leading with shots on goal. Often players, like Rodrigo Garcia ‘26 and Ishaan Saini ‘26, were able to use speed and agility to break through Viper defense and help maintain possession in the Viper’s half. Although some Viper long balls from the defense were successful, goalkeeper Benji DeBlois ‘26, made crucial saves against the Viper offense. 

“I think they were definitely fouling a lot, they tried  to get in our heads and we just had to keep calm,” Seyhoon said. “Our coach taught us that throughout the week, so we just kept calm and stayed composed.”

Following half time, the Vipers started with the ball,putting great pressure on the Warrior defense. Much of the second half was divided in possession between the Warriors and the Vipers. However, the Vipers did garner multiple fouls as a result of their competitive play. In a pursuit to match the scoreboard, while the Vipers did take more shots on goal, DeBlois was able to stop all of them alongside the help of Warrior defense. 

“We decided the best way to defend in the 2nd half was to force them to play our way and keep the ball in their own half instead of letting them use the wind [to their advantage],” Brown said. “We mostly stuck to our same game plan since it was working in the 1st half, as there was no reason why it wouldn’t work in the 2nd half. We did adjust a little bit, as we became more laid [than in the first half],but that’s about it.”

Toward the later end of the game, the Warriors had switched to a more relaxed and slower style game as compared to the Vipers. They were slowing the game by building out plays from the back, rather than long balls, and utilizing defenders such as Saini to break through Viper midfield. The end of the second half was filled with more composure and emphasis on maintaining possession through shorter passes rather than long balls or through balls. The Warriors concluded the night 2-0, becoming Round Rock ISD district champions and securing a spot for playoffs. 

“Seeing the team win [districts my]  freshman year made me want to win one badly, and so winning one my senior year felt like a good way to go out,” Brown said. “I want to make a deep run [in playoffs] and I hope the team has a lot of fun one last time.”