Coach sees plenty of work ahead for Lobos

By TODD HVEEM
CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
The Langham Creek Lobos have won District 15-5A titles in 2007 and 2009, and advanced to the state soccer playoffs for the past three years.
But there is still work to be done.
Just ask head coach Scott Tucker.
Last year, we advanced to the playoffs for the third straight year for the first time in school history,'' said Tucker, who has guided his team to four playoff berths in seven years at the helm.
This year,'' he added, we want to make that four. Our goal is to always have a good season and compete. But it is going to be interesting in a 10-team district.''
This year, District 15-5A has been divided into two zones.
Cy Creek, Cy Springs, Cy-Fair, Jersey Village and Langham Creek will make up one zone, while Cy Ridge, Cy Falls, Cy Woods, Cy Ranch and Cy Lakes will make up the other.
Teams in the same zone will play twice and play the teams in the other zone once for a total of 13 district matches.
We sat down and drew them out of the hat,'' Tucker said. I think we plan to sit down at the end of the season and see how we like it or if we need to do something different. But this is what we have this year.''
Cy Ridge, Cy Falls and Cy Woods all made the playoffs last year. Langham Creek is the only team that made the playoffs last year from its zone.
A lot of people think that might be to our advantage,'' Tucker said, but I think both zones are very difficult.
Our district has a very balanced field of teams,'' he added. From top to bottom, I think it is better than it has ever been.''
Langham Creek returns seven starters from last year's tri-championship team in goalie Nick Boardley, midfielders Ryan Lewis and Javier Pulido, defender Patrick Gutierrez, forward Chijoke Akujobi and all-around players Miguel Mendoza and Daniel Ehrig.
Boardley and Lewis are three-year starters, Tucker said.
We finished in a three-way tie for the district title (with Cy Woods and Cy Ridge) last year and went to the playoffs as the No. 1 seed,'' Tucker said.
Then, we lost to Round Rock McNeil 1-0. But they wound up going three rounds deep (in the playoffs).''
Langham Creek advanced to the regional tournament in 2007, then lost to Mayde Creek in the bi-district round of the 2008 playoffs after finishing second in district behind Strake Jesuit.
Our goal this year is just to get in the door,'' Tucker said.
Going three years in a row has been tremendous. We want to make that four, but it is going to be tough.
In zone games, we will have a home-and-away series,'' he added. But the teams who eventually make it are the ones who do well in the cross-zone games. I think those games are going to be a huge factor.''
Tucker said Cy Woods, Cy Falls, Cy Ridge, Cy Springs, Cy Creek and Cy-Fair all have a shot to make the second season.
I just hope we are in the mix and have a chance,'' he added. It is going to be exciting. If we had 18 district games, I think you could afford to give away a couple. Here, you can't give anything away.''