For 60 minutes, San Marcos kept Schertz Clemens at bay.
The Rattlers fell to the Buffaloes in their first meeting 5-0. But on Tuesday, San Marcos saw itself in a 2-2 tie after three-fourths of the game complete.
But Clemens put up four goals in the final 20 minutes to defeat the Rattlers, 6-2, inside San Marcos Toyota Rattler Stadium.
“We played so hard for three-quarters of the game and then just all of a sudden, I don’t know,” head coach Lisa Mazur said. “It wasn’t even because of a lack of effort. (Clemens) is good and they’re fast. They’re very talented. We were trying to push up and score some goals at the end so it just created counters for them and they were able to convert.”
Clemens (12-7-1, 8-3 26-6A) scored first in Tuesday’s matchup against San Marcos (8-10-1, 6-5). But the Rattlers quickly tied the match at 1-1.
The Buffaloes went back on top at 2-1. San Marcos equalized when senior forward Frankie Menchaca placed a mishit ball into the back of the net.
Mazur said the Rattlers were able to score twice Tuesday because they pressed hard on offense.
“I think just the effort,” Mazur said. “We were a little more aggressive and just trying to take them off their game a little bit. Even though we lost, I was pleased. It’s something to build on. We’re young. We’re very young. So, we’re going to take this, work on it and move forward.”
Clemens answered to take a 3-2 advantage. The Buffaloes added three more goals to take the match, 6-2.
Junior Caleb McCausland scored three goals for Clemens. Senior Justin Dvorak, junior Jorge Ugaz and sophomore Caleb Callahan each scored a goal during the match.
San Marcos returns to action on Friday. The Rattlers travel to take on New Braunfels at 7:15 p.m.
Mazur said she learned Tuesday that her team isn’t going to give up with three games left in the district slate.
“I tell you, we’re not going to quit,” Mazur said. “They’re not going to quit ever and they’re going to keep playing. We’re going to keep our heads up. We’re still in it.”
