The Connally High boys soccer team beat Bastrop 2-2 (3-2) in District 25-5A action here last week.

At the end of regulation the score was knotted up 2-2 and a shootout was needed to decide the winner. The Cougars were able to take advantage of their experience in shootouts and get the win. The Cougars have won two of the three shootouts they have been in this year.

“We played good and passed better than any other game this year,” Connally coach John Mark Edwards said. “We just didn’t finish the deal in regulation time and got it done in the shootout. Our team stepped up at every position from the keeper to the defense and the forwards as well as the play by the mid fielders.”

Bastrop started out on the attack and was able to get in close for a point-blank shot that Cougar goalie Brooks Grubb was able to deflect out of play giving the Bears a corner kick four minutes into the game. The kick was cleared by the Cougar defense.

A minute later Bryan Gavarrete fed Alex Fortin for a shot that had to be saved by Bears’ keeper Fernando Garcia. Connally’s Jose Rodriguez placed a nice cross that was taken by Kevin Del Aguila and shot in for another scoring chance that was stopped short by Garcia.

In the 17th minute Gavarrete ripped a swerving shot that Garcia had to watch closely and make a hard save on. A minute later Gavarrete crossed to Servando Borja who blasted a shot of his own at the Bears’ keeper.

In the 11th minute Jeff Anumu broke the scoreless tie by taking the ball in and launching it into the back of the old onion bag.

With two minutes left in the first half, Fortin fed a quick pass to Gavarrete who cranked a shot that skimmed the left post.

The Cougars continued their same form in the second half, by scoring eight minutes in. Borja sent in a timely pass that Anumu popped in for Jonathan Campuzano to head in past the Bears’ keeper.

This 2-0 deficit ignited a fire in the Bears, as they responded by taking the ball down the field and scored one of their own.

The sound defensive play of Jacob Smith was on display for the Cougars as he directed the defense and helped with the ball movement through the mid-field.

Bastrop’s Lee McMillan took a corner and sent it in to Clay Raemsch who headed it in past Grubb at close range to tie the game at 2-2 and send it to overtime.

The shootout resulted in Grubb coming up big as he blocked two shots. Gavarrete, Campuzano and Anumu scored for the Cougars. McMillan and Hector Lopez scored for the Bears, and Garcia blocked one attempt.