McKinney Chupacabras 2-1 West Texas FC
McKinney Chupacabras 2-1 West Texas FC
McKinney Avenges Draw, Defeats West Texas
McKinney Chupacabras FC avenged last week’s 2-2 draw against West Texas FC with a gritty 2-1 victory Saturday night at Ron Poe Stadium.
McKinney (6-0-1) leaned on timely goals from forwards Milton Lopez and Brayden Beason, along with several key saves from goalkeeper Nathan Kinser, to remain unbeaten and strengthen its hold atop the Ranger Division standings. West Texas fell to 1-3-2 on the season.
The two clubs played to a physical 2-2 draw in Midland one week earlier, when West Texas scored a late equalizer to deny the Chupacabras a victory. This time, McKinney held firm.
“Last time we went up 2-1 in Midland, and they threw everything at us,” head coach Frank Yallop said. “This time, we dug deep as a group. Really proud of the guys and the way they saw the game through.”
West Texas nearly opened the scoring in the 14th minute after a corner kick found the back of the net, but the goal was waved off for offside. The chance came moments after Kinser made a diving save to deny the visitors and preserve the deadlock.
McKinney took advantage six minutes later.
Midfielder Aubry Eason sent a corner kick into the box that found Lopez, who headed the ball into the net in the 20th minute for his third goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.
The Chupacabras looked poised to double the advantage late in the first half when midfielder Jaylinn Mitchell got on the end of a Beason pass in the 39th minute, but his shot drifted just wide of the post.
West Texas answered in the 42nd minute, with Diego Robles converting a cross into the box to level the score at 1-1.
McKinney, however, regained the lead just before halftime.
In the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, Beason tapped home from a corner kick to give the Chupacabras a 2-1 advantage entering the break.
Despite leading, McKinney was fortunate to take the advantage into halftime after West Texas created several quality opportunities throughout the opening 45 minutes.
The visitors nearly equalized three minutes into the second half, but their shot sailed just wide of the net.
Kinser made a terrific save on a West Texas set piece in the 57th minute and followed it with another superb stop two minutes later, denying Liam Kervick’s curling effort to keep the Chupacabras in front.
Yallop praised Kinser, along with defenders Ronaldo Garcia, who made his club debut off the bench, and Evan Lupo, for their work protecting the lead and defending the box.
The home side had one final chance to extend the lead in the second minute of stoppage time when Sam Jones had a shot deflected out for a corner, but McKinney was content to run out the clock.
For the fifth time this season, the Chupacabras won by a single goal. Three of those victories have come by a 2-1 scoreline.
“The mentality of the guys in these close matches has been great,” Yallop said.
The victory also kicked off a demanding stretch for McKinney, which will play three matches in five days. The Chupacabras return to action Monday against Denton Diablos FC in the makeup of the club’s postponed June 6 match.
Denton defeated Lubbock Matadors SC 2-1 Saturday night, with Carlos Diaz recording the game-winner in the 90th minute.
Yallop said managing minutes will be key during the busy stretch.
“These guys do well. They’re used to playing a lot of games in a short space of time because of college,” Yallop said. “They don’t really worry about it. As a coach, you try to pick the right lineup to start well in the match, and then sometimes you’re saving some of the guys to go on late in the game to make the difference.”
The top two teams in the Ranger Division square off at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Mean Green Soccer Stadium.
Words by Grayson Pitts.
Edited by Elliott Stockdale.