Congratulations to several Clark Cougars as the spring edition of the Express News all city awards were announced. Seniors Elhad Emerllahu and Jason Brickman made the Express News Super Team in basketball.  Junior Johnny Lawson made the Express News Super Team for soccer as did Gabrielle Santorio.  Several athletes also made all area teams and all district teams.  All can be found at mysanantonio.com.

ALL AREA

Clark soccer celebrates season while thanking fans

The Clark boys soccer season ended in the regional championship against an overly whiny Westlake Chaparral team, 2-1 (even several of their fans said so…seriously…).  The Cougars finish the season with a Clark best 21-2-2 record.  Their appearance in the regional championship game is the farthest a Clark boys soccer team has ever advanced in the playoffs.

Both goals for Westlake came at point blank range, giving keeper Brandon Van Wagner little chance at stopping them.  Clark’s goal came off a corner kick rebound by sophomore Carlos Sepulveda.

The Cougars were ranked #19 in the nation and #4 in Texas by ESPN.  Congratulations on a great season.  You made us proud, boys!

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Coach Eddie Ashley’s comments after the game:

The Clark boys soccer team advanced to the regional championship Friday with a win over Mission Sharyland at Blossom Stadium. The Coogs heart stopping path to the “Elite Eight” of Texas high school soccer came with another shootout. For the third game in a row Clark ended regulation and overtime tied and this time like the last it was 0-0. In methodical fashion, Johnny Lawson, Oscar Barboza and Evan Javors  made the first three goals of the shootout while Cougar goalkeeper Brandon Van Wagner kept Sharyland out altogether ending the game. Read more in the Express News. And at RGVsports.com.

Next step comes at 3:00 Saturday at Blossom when Clark takes on familiar foe – Austin Westlake (18-5-2) . At stake is one of four spots in the state tournament.

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Clark soccer team congratulates Van Wagner

The Clark boys soccer team is headed to the Region IV tournament for the first time in school history following a quarterfinal instant classic against Austin Bowie. The game wasn’t decided until a sudden death shoot out goal by Zack Guevara and a clutch stop on Bowie’s next attempt by the game’s hero – Clark goalkeeper Brandon Van Wagner. All this followed a defensive fight in regulation that ended in a 0-0 tie, two 10 minute overtime periods that ended with no score and a shootout that went through the standard five players only to end in a 3-3 tie. Guevara’s shot marked the 7th kick in the shootout and when Bowie failed to convert its 7th attempt the game was finally history. Coach Eddie Ashley’s teams have never lost a shootout in the four years since he arrived at Clark and now they’ll take their national ranking (currently #19) and clutch play to the next level.  Catch more details about the game in this Express News article.

The Region IV tournament will be Friday and Saturday at Blossom with Clark facing either Brownsville Lopez or Mission Sharyland in the semi-finals.

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BI -DISTRICT CHAMPIONS!

The Clark boys soccer team got the playoffs started with a pounding of Corpus Christi Carroll on Tuesday in Corpus. Clark beat Carroll 4-1 with two goals from Jair Rodriguez and one each from Johnny Lawson and Carlos Sepulveda. Goalkeeper Brandon Van Wagner insured the win with 7 saves.

Next up for the Cougars will be the Area showdown against the winner of the Lee – Austin Anderson game.

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GO COOGS!

Keeping Clark winning

Brandon Van Wagner, goalkeeper on this year’s nationally ranked Clark Cougar varsity soccer team, is featured in this week’s article by Pat Turner.  The New York native has adjusted to his new Texas home and the result is a successful season for him and the rest of Coach Eddie Ashley’s team.

The Clark boys soccer team scored one goal in the first half of their match with Brandeis and it turned out to be enough to win the game. Luis Hernandez found the back of the net for the goal and then defense, including six saves by goal keeper Brandon Van Wagner and two saves by Jonathan Fargnoli took care of the rest. The Cougars are 4-0-1 on the season so far and now 1-0 in district play.

The girls soccer team had to settle for the third tie of their young season, as they battled Brandeis to a 0-0 score. Clark has a 1-1-3 record this season. Read about the game in the Express News.

The Coogs  face Stevens on Tuesday the 19th at 7:00 at  Northside field #2. The boys play at 5:00.