The Harlan High School boys soccer team’s ascension to the heights that it now enjoys has been swift.

The Hawks’ profile transformed from being the new kid on the block in 2019, to immediately qualifying for the playoffs, to being two wins from advancing to the UIL state tournament in 2021 and 2022.

Many of the key figures who paved the way during the early years are no longer around. What they left behind, though, still serves as a guiding light.

Harlan capitalized on a fortuitous goal and a stout defensive performance to edge Jay 1-0 Tuesday in a District 29-6A encounter at the Northside ISD’s Hardin Complex.

The Hawks (8-3-2 overall, 6-0-1 in league play) remained unbeaten in their past 55 district matches, improving to 53-0-2 since a 3-0 setback vs. Southwest on March 10, 2020. It was the final game they before that season was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the other teams, they saw our stats and they definitely see a target on our backs,” Harlan junior forward Greydn Richards said.

In the aftermath of the loss, Harlan has earned a spot among the state’s best teams, winning three district championships and twice advancing to the Region IV-6A tournament. The Hawks, however, started off slow this season. They lost three out of their first five games while participating at the competitive North Texas Elite Showcase and Austin Lakes Elite Showcase on back-to-back weekends.

“Last year, we had a really, really good team,” Richards said. “The year before that, (we had an) insanely good team. We lost a lot of players from last year, and people know that we’re not quite as strong. But we got that will. That’s one of the things we gained.”

It showed on Tuesday. With the match scoreless at halftime, Harlan delivered the difference-maker only 6 1/2 minutes into the second half. Richards put in the ricochet of a shot by teammate Alejandro Vargas that was deflected off the crossbar by the Jay goalkeeper.

The Hawks, who are 6-0-2 in their past eight encounters, made the goal stand as goalkeeper Jesus Escobedo teamed with the back line of Sam Allen, Angel Mercado and Riley McNamara to keep Jay (9-2-1, 4-2) at bay.

“The first 15 minutes, it’s go, go, go,” Richards said of scoring shortly after halftime. “Can’t stop. Can’t hold back. That’s something we’ve really been trying to keep (as a point of emphasis) this year. Those 1-0 wins mean the most compared to 6-0 and 5-0. We have to work harder to get them. When games come down to the wire, it’s (about) giving 100 percent through the whole thing. I feel we got it done today.”

terrence@terrencesports.com
Twitter: @sa_terrence1