The Smithville High School varsity soccer team placed sixth overall out of 16 teams in their first tournament of the season, which lasted from last Thursday to Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Bastrop.

Game 1
The Tigers were off to a good start against the Brazosport 4A team, winning 2-0.
Danny Davis and Matt Swartz each scored a hard shot on goal to ensure a victory.
Tiger defense, including goalie Jamie Swartz, shut out Brazosport while Jake Roberson, Corey Smith, Jason Thomas, Jose Jaimes and Joe Reyna all had shots on goal, keeping the Brazosport goalie very busy.

Game 2
In their second game of the tournament, the Tigers did not have as great of luck, getting outscored 4-1 against the athletic and skilled Austin Westlake 5A team.
The game was a lot closer than the score reveals, with a goal by Davis being taken away and a disputed offside goal by Westlake being counted.
Matt Swartz scored the Tigers’ only goal in the first half with a low shot on goal.

Game 3
The Tigers’ third game was a defensive battle against a tough Smithson Valley 5A team, with each team unable to score.
Goalie Jamie Swartz, along with the Tiger defense, held off Smithson Valley time and time again.
Meanwhile, Davis, Jaimes and Josue Borja all managed very close shots on goal.
The tie result allowed the Tigers to move on to the tournament’s silver round.

Game 4
In their fourth game of the tournament, the Tigers defeated Round Rock’s 5A team in overtime by a score of 5-4.
Davis scored two outstanding goals in regular time to tie Round Rock while Josue Borja, David Mariscal, Jason Thomas and Richard Campos shut out the Round Rock offense in the second half.
Jamie Swartz blocked 3-of-5 goals in overtime, allowing the overtime goals by Davis, Borja and Richard Campos to seal the Tiger victory.
This put the Tigers into the silver winners round and gave them a chance to win fifth place overall in the tournament out of 16 teams that competed.

Game 5
The Tigers lost during overtime in their last game of the tournament against a very physical, tough and verbally intimidating Beaumont 4A team.
Despite the fact that the Tigers started the game without four of its varsity players, two of them being key starters, they were able to keep Beaumont from scoring in the second half, ending the regular time with a 1-1 tie.
The offensive highlight of the game was a breakaway goal from Joe Reyna during regular time.
Jaimes and Davis also managed shots on goals during overtime.
“Overall, despite the win-loss record at the tournament, I feel it was a very positive experience, an excellent coaching and learning clinic for the players and for me,” said head coach Tom Hauser.