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Mar. 18—The Odessa High Bronchos played their best soccer in the second half of district play.
That's good news as the boys soccer team gets ready for the start of the UIL Class 6A Division I state playoffs.
Even better news? The Bronchos will enjoy home field advantage in this week's bi-district round matchup against El Paso Franklin.
Odessa High will take on Franklin at 7 p.m. Thursday at Ratliff Stadium.
In the past, even when the Bronchos finished first or second in the District 2-6A standings, Odessa High was stuck playing on the road in the bi-district round.
"It's exciting to play a home game," Odessa High head coach Eliseo Ortiz said. "I've been coaching for 10 years and this is the first home playoff matchup that we've had. I can't remember the last time that OHS hosted a playoff game. The reason is because the rules have changed. Even when we got the first or second seeds in the past, we had different agreements where we had to travel or meet halfway. Being at home in itself is exciting enough. We're excited to be at home in front of our friends and family."
After struggling at the start of district play, the Bronchos were a much better team in the second half of the district portion of the season as Odessa High managed a second place finish to earn a home playoff game.
The Bronchos finished the regular season with a 12-7-1 overall record and 4-2-4-1-1 in District 2-6A to finish with 18 points.
"I think we're very excited because our best part of the season was the second part of district play," Ortiz said. "We had a very slow start. Out of the first nine points, we were only able to get one but after that, the boys figured it out and have put together the results."
Odessa High crushed Midland Legacy 4-1 in last week's regular season finale at Ratliff Stadium.
The week before that, the Bronchos defeated Wolfforth Frenship 5-1.
"It was a process," Ortiz said of his team's progress. "We were a work in progress. We had to figure out how to take advantage of opportunities and how to finish better. That was the difference. I think the possession and finding the right spaces and making the right decisions, that was always there. We just found a way to score and improved in the attacking third. Things starting clicking better with the players. That's how I saw it."
However, the Bronchos must now find a way past a Franklin team that comes from one of the toughest districts in soccer in the state.
The Cougars (10-6) finished third in the District 1-6A standings.
"They were able to make the playoffs and any team that can survive that district is a more than worthy opponent," Ortiz said. "They're going to be tough. We expect that."
Last year, the Cougars were dealt a 3-1 loss in extra time last year to Permian in the bi-district round at Ratliff Stadium.
The last time the Bronchos made it past the bi-district round was in 2022 when Odessa High defeated Franklin 4-1.
After defeating the Rebels last week, the Bronchos took the remainder of the week off to let the players get some much-needed rest.
"I think traditionally, we always take half of the spring break off to let the kids rest up and get ready for the playoffs," Ortiz said. "That rest is very crucial especially after a tough district battle."
Continue reading...
That's good news as the boys soccer team gets ready for the start of the UIL Class 6A Division I state playoffs.
Even better news? The Bronchos will enjoy home field advantage in this week's bi-district round matchup against El Paso Franklin.
Odessa High will take on Franklin at 7 p.m. Thursday at Ratliff Stadium.
In the past, even when the Bronchos finished first or second in the District 2-6A standings, Odessa High was stuck playing on the road in the bi-district round.
"It's exciting to play a home game," Odessa High head coach Eliseo Ortiz said. "I've been coaching for 10 years and this is the first home playoff matchup that we've had. I can't remember the last time that OHS hosted a playoff game. The reason is because the rules have changed. Even when we got the first or second seeds in the past, we had different agreements where we had to travel or meet halfway. Being at home in itself is exciting enough. We're excited to be at home in front of our friends and family."
After struggling at the start of district play, the Bronchos were a much better team in the second half of the district portion of the season as Odessa High managed a second place finish to earn a home playoff game.
The Bronchos finished the regular season with a 12-7-1 overall record and 4-2-4-1-1 in District 2-6A to finish with 18 points.
"I think we're very excited because our best part of the season was the second part of district play," Ortiz said. "We had a very slow start. Out of the first nine points, we were only able to get one but after that, the boys figured it out and have put together the results."
Odessa High crushed Midland Legacy 4-1 in last week's regular season finale at Ratliff Stadium.
The week before that, the Bronchos defeated Wolfforth Frenship 5-1.
"It was a process," Ortiz said of his team's progress. "We were a work in progress. We had to figure out how to take advantage of opportunities and how to finish better. That was the difference. I think the possession and finding the right spaces and making the right decisions, that was always there. We just found a way to score and improved in the attacking third. Things starting clicking better with the players. That's how I saw it."
However, the Bronchos must now find a way past a Franklin team that comes from one of the toughest districts in soccer in the state.
The Cougars (10-6) finished third in the District 1-6A standings.
"They were able to make the playoffs and any team that can survive that district is a more than worthy opponent," Ortiz said. "They're going to be tough. We expect that."
Last year, the Cougars were dealt a 3-1 loss in extra time last year to Permian in the bi-district round at Ratliff Stadium.
The last time the Bronchos made it past the bi-district round was in 2022 when Odessa High defeated Franklin 4-1.
After defeating the Rebels last week, the Bronchos took the remainder of the week off to let the players get some much-needed rest.
"I think traditionally, we always take half of the spring break off to let the kids rest up and get ready for the playoffs," Ortiz said. "That rest is very crucial especially after a tough district battle."
Continue reading...
