The Connally High boys soccer team picked up a big district win last week, beating Westlake 1-0.

“We played well in the second half and executed our game plan,” Cougar coach John Mark Edwards said. “That was a beautiful shot by Kevin Del Aguila.”

Neither team managed a score in the first half and it took Connally (3-1) until late in the second half to finally beat the Chap keeper.

The Cougars finally broke through after Westlake was handed a yellow card after a hard take down on Connally’s Bryan Gavarrete.

The Cougars used this call to their advantage and brought more firing power on the box. Kevin Del Aguila fired a low wicked shot that was knocked away by the Chaps’ keeper setting up a corner kick.

The kick was sent in and kicked aside by the Chaps, which left another chance for the Cougars to score. Alex Fortin quickly pressured the Chaps defender winning a throw-in. The Cougars took the throw-in and pieced together a great pass to Del Aguila who ripped a shot that found its mark in the upper part of the goal with 4 minutes left in the game.

The game was a back-and-forth contest the entire time. In the first half, the two teams exchanged early possession while trying to probe one another’s defenses. The Chaps tried to take advantage of the Cougar goalie Brooks Grubb by launching a long shot but Grubb was ready for the shot and made a nice diving save on the attempt.

The Cougars gave up a penalty kick around midfield which was sent in towards the box and punched clear by Grubb, mere minutes later.

The two teams turned up the heat by getting physical and at times a bit rough as they fought for ball possession. The Chaps launched a low swerving rocket in the 15th minute that was again turned away by Grubb.

The Cougars seemed to come to life toward the end of the half. The Cougars moved the ball deep into the Chap side forcing the first corner kick of the night with 4 minutes remaining. Jeff Anumu sent in a nice pass to the top of the box that was collected by Jacob Smith who turned and fired towards the Chaps’ goal. The shot went just left of the goal, missing it’s mark.