Members of the Alamo Heights High School girls soccer team made their way through the customary post-game handshake line and headed toward their bench.

The players gathered their belongings and walked to a far corner of the Blossom Athletic Center. They sat on the ground as Coach Chris Sharp addressed them.

The Mules had just experienced something they rarely have for nearly two seasons — being challenged in a District 27-5A match. They hope they’re better off because of it.

Alamo Heights built an early cushion and held off MacArthur 6-4 Friday in a showdown for first place in 27-5A. The Mules (13-0-1 overall, 7-0 in district) have won 26 consecutive league games dating back to the 2022 season.

“I think teams are getting better,” Alamo Heights junior forward Brooke Martinez said. “I think it’s important that we also get better. Even though it was chaotic, we came out with the win.”

Alamo Heights’ latest triumph was far from easy. Freshman Mikayla Cunningham scored two goals and Victoria Foster and Maggie Hartnett each had one as the Mules led 4-0 with 10 minutes left in the first half and appeared headed to another commanding district win. They had won their previous 25 league games by a combined 136-0 margin.

MacArthur (8-3-1, 6-1), which a year ago made the UIL playoffs for the first time since advancing to the state tournament in 2016 and is in its first season under Coach Hector Cano, had other plans. Delaina Yuen tallied the first of her two goals with 5 1/2 minutes left to pull her team to within 4-1.

It was the first goal that Alamo Heights has allowed during district play since a 3-0 setback to Dripping Springs on March 4, 2022, snapping a streak of 25 straight shutouts during district competition.

And although Alamo Heights extended its advantage to 5-1 when Martinez converted on a penalty kick with seconds left before halftime, the Brahmas (8-3-1, 6-1) had found a much-needed spark.

MacArthur outscored the Mules 3-1 in the second half, with Olivia Amatt, Yuen and Lalina Wilson each recording a goal to close their team’s deficit to 6-4 with eight minutes left.

“I felt like in the first half we were a little lost,” MacArthur senior defender Bailey FitzSimon said. “I feel in the second half we gained our confidence, and we just learned to really fight through and work together and think positive, and not let it get the best of us.”

Alamo Heights, whose lone second-half goal came from Jessica Mann, held off MacArthur over the final seven minutes, despite having to play shorthanded after a player was ejected after receiving a second yellow card.

“They were coming back, and we had to realize what we had to do to make sure that they didn’t score on us again,” Martinez said. “I felt like at the end it got a little messy, but we kept our composure and ended up doing OK.”

Boys
MacArthur 3, Alamo Heights 1: In the nightcap of a doubleheader, Jared Garibay, Jacob Sandoval and Aaron Villanueva each scored a goal in the second half as the Brahmas (9-5, 6-1) moved into a tie with the Mules (11-3, 6-1) for first place in District 27-5A.

MacArthur coach Damion Simmons earned his 100th career win in the process. He is in his 11th season at the school and has led the Brahmas to five playoff appearances (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2023) in the previous 10 seasons.

All four goals were scored in the second half after the teams were scoreless at halftime.

terrence@terrencesports.com
Twitter: @sa_terrence1