Goalkeeper Mickey Raine with another amazing save
The Wildcat soccer team is off to regionals after a wild playoff win in Mesquite Friday night.
After falling behind in the first half, the Cats ended the game in a 2-2 tie against Mesquite Horn. It was a defensive struggle in overtime with neither team finding the net, so the players lined up for a shootout – a kind of one-on-one, man-against-goalie tie-breaker. In the end, it was Wildcat goalkeeper Mickey Raine who shot the winning goal for the Lake Highlands victory.
The Cats will play this Tuesday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at Clark Stadium in Plano against Plano West. Note: Plano West knocked Jesuit out of the playoffs in the first round with a shootout of their own to end a 0-0 tie.
“I’m expecting a close game,” Mickey told me. “At this stage in playoffs, you’re playing some of the best teams in the area. I’m not sure what they have yet, but as a team we’re not looking for that yet. We look for that during the game and will attack any weak links a team will have.
“I believe our greatest challenge will be physically, can we stay strong on reaching our goal. With a long game on Friday night, I believe that takes a toll on our body. We also have some important players with injuries, but we will be there more mentally than any other team in Texas.”
Mickey, one of 13 graduating seniors on the team, will play for Bellmont Abbey in North Carolina in the fall.
Go Cats!
