Chargers grab share of 26-5A soccer title

[Bon_Mot]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/high_school/Chargers_grab_share_of_26-5A_soccer_title.html

By Terrence Thomas - Express-News

Their résumé and expectations long ago suggested that winning state championships is where their focus lay.

Yet, there the No. 6 Churchill Chargers were Tuesday, celebrating their 3-1 District 26-5A victory against No. 5 Lee as if it were the third round of the playoffs and not a regular-season finale.

The victory at Blossom Stadium moved Churchill into a tie with Lee (15-5-4, 10-2-4) and No. 4 Reagan (13-2-5, 10-2-4) for first place in 26-5A, but the moment wasn't lost on the Chargers (13-4-4, 10-2-4).

By winning, Churchill collected its first district title — shared or outright — since 2007. The Chargers also garnered 26-5A's No. 1 playoff seed thanks to a tiebreaker.

Reagan will be the No. 2 seed, Lee the No. 3 seed and New Braunfels the fourth seed.

“It's been a few years since we won (a district title),” Churchill senior midfielder Nick Cukjati said. “Every year, one goal of ours is to win district, but that's not where it ends.

“We want to win state. We want to win regional. So, district is just a small step on the road to doing it.''

Cukjati, a holdover from Churchill's 2008 state semifinalist squad, more than did his part in getting that journey going.

He scored twice, including once on a brilliant 30-yard free kick in the second half that provided the Chargers the cushion they needed.

David Rios scored Churchill's other goal off a pass from Tommy Herrick.

“Every year, people have high standards for us; they expect us to do well,” Cukjati said. “To win district is a great feeling. This gives the team a whole lot of confidence going into the playoffs.''

Seeking a third straight outright 26-5A championship, Lee was forced to play catch-up virtually from the start.

Churchill went ahead 1-0 just 11/2 minutes into the game before Roberto Moreno put in a pass from Bryin Venegas to tie it at 1-1 in the 10th minute.

But the Volunteers couldn't muster another reply after falling behind 2-1.

“We're no stranger to adversity,” Lee coach Bobby Ramos said. “It's just that things didn't go our way.

“We had plenty of opportunities. We just couldn't finish the opportunities.''

[Newcastle]

Congrats Coach Bledsoe!

Tell the family hello for me...

[sharkfutbol]

Congratulations ... I had just read that article and was going to post ....  good luck

[reccosdog]

Congratulations Coach on the district title and the little one on the way.