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Offensive onslaught: Goal parade versus East, win over West puts Allen in playoffs
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Tuesday night was not just another match for Allen boys soccer.
"I told the boys, 'this could be the game that guarantees us a spot in the playoffs,'" said Bryan Hantak, Allen head coach.
Could became would by the end of the evening as the Eagles (4-1-2 in district) defeated Plano West (0-6-1), 1-0, on a goal from senior Kevin Ptacek midway through the second half.
That remains a possibility after a week in which Allen picked up four points.
The Eagles got going in a big way Friday as they eclipsed their season-high in goals during a 5-1 win over Plano East.
"Our team is so talented, so creative and we always seem to have possession, it's just when we get into that final third we've had some problems," Hantak said. "So going into that game, we said to the guys, 'how great would it be to just unload on a team.' And they did. We got a goal or two and then it just started pouring on like a waterfall."
The first two goals were scored by junior outside-midfielder Andrew Russell. Hantak called Russell a "backbone player for us," a term he also used to describe senior Daniel Hansen, who tickled the twine as well. Hansen added two assists while Allen got additional goals from seniors Zack Helmick and Austin Robinson in the 5-1 victory.
"This was the game we had been waiting for," Hantak said. "The only bad part for the boys is now we're going to expect it more often."
Goals were harder to come by Tuesday versus West.
That was a marked change from the team's first encounter where a 3-3 draw was the result. One of the differences between then and now was the return of Eagles junior goalkeeper CJ Hendricks.
"CJ has been playing very well," Hantak said. "And our guys are just really comfortable with him back there."
Hendricks turned aside anything that came his way and Allen, which was a man down in the second half following an ejection, scored the lone goal with less than 20 minutes remaining in the match on a header from Ptacek at the top of the 6-yard-box.
"It was a beautiful ball," Hantak said. "(Senior) Andrew Greenleaf worked hard down the right side, sent a great cross in and Kevin just skies above everyone to get it."
The win, Allen's third straight, keeps the team one point ahead of McKinney (3-1-3) for second place in District 10-5A and four points back of McKinney Boyd (7-0-0) for the lead. The Eagles will host the Broncos, who picked up a 3-1 decision in their first game, at 7:30 p.m. Friday from Ford Middle School in both team's final match before Spring Break.
"We have something to prove there," Hantak said. "Not to me because I know what these boys can do, but the boys want to prove something to themselves and if they can take Boyd, I think that would really open their eyes."
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