The Clark Cougars Men’s team took on NEISD’s MacArthur Brahmas tonight and earned another win, putting their season at 19-3-1.
There was another large crowd tonight and the mild evening was the perfect setting for the third round of playoffs. Across town, NISD’s Brandeis battled O’Connor, winning 2-1 on a last minute goal.

Meanwhile, at Blossom, the Cougars and Brahmas went head to head in regular play (two 40 minute halves) and then in overtime (two 10 minute halves) with nary a goal between them. Clark’s keeper, senior Preston Campbell, obviously ate his Wheaties because he knocked every attempt out of the goal in regular play. Go Coogs!
Clark had several attempts on the Brahmas’ goal but to no avail. Around the 75th minute, Clark went down a man when one of the Cougars received a red card. MacArthur failed to capitalize on the advantage and, in the end, Clark’s win came down to Penalty Kicks (PKs).

Keeper Campbell saved the first Brahma attempt and then senior Nick O’Malley was up for the Cougars, easily shooting past the Brahmas’ keeper and putting Clark’s first goal on the board, 1-0.

In the second set of PKs, Campbell dove again and blocked the Brahmas’ shot, a very near miss that sent the Brahma fans into a frenzy. Junior Matt Jacobs then scored, 2-0 Clark.

The Brahmas were down but not out, when their third attempt hit the back of Clark’s net. Clark’s attempt was blocked by MacArthur’s keeper and ratcheted up the tension. Still 2-1 for Clark, though.

In the fourth round of PKs, the Brahmas’ next attempt was all sky, shooting well over the net. If Clark made the next shot, then the win was theirs. Senior Gus Moir stepped up and powered the ball past the keeper, resulting in a frenzied mass of Cougars cheering in the stands and on the pitch. This puts O’Malley & Jacobs at 2 for 2 in PK attempts during the last two games – great play all around but good to know you can count on the Coogs when the pressure is on.

It’s a GREAT day to be a Cougar!

Next, Clark plays Lopez on Friday in the Regional semi-final (field and time to be announced); and Brandeis plays Riviera that same evening. Both Lopez and Riviera are Valley teams; Brandeis & Clark are the only two San Antonio teams left in the playoffs. How proud are we of that?

Hope to see y’all on Friday night!

Submitted by Caryn Moir