Just-this-close Mustangs seeking to turn a corner

By John English

Judging the Grapevine boys soccer team by its record through the first half of district competition would be a big mistake for the Mustangs’ opponents.

At 1-5-1 through the first seven district games, Grapevine has struggled to pick up wins, but with four of its five losses coming by one goal or less, the Mustangs appear to be poised to gain some ground as the second half of district play gets under way.

“We've been unlucky a couple of times,” coach Heath Bullard said. “We lost on an own goal to Trinity. We lost on a PK to Colleyville. Against Bell, we gave up a goal late in the second half to lose 2-1.

“So it's been close. We just have to finish better and play a little bit smarter.”

Grapevine lost to Irving Nimitz 1-0 on Friday night, and Bullard said the loss was really more of the same for his squad.

“We had opportunities to win the game,” Bullard said. “We had four or five corners that night, and we just had a couple people out of position that didn't do what they were supposed to do. If we could have finished some shots there, we had a real chance.

“It was one of those things where we made a big mistake in the second half that allowed them to score.”

Bullard said the goals for the second half of district competition revolve around getting his players to execute better than it did in the first half.

“We just have to finish some goals, and eliminate some of the mistakes that we are making,” Bullard said. “We basically just need to get everybody on the same page.”

The Mustangs played L.D. Bell on Tuesday night after the paper had already gone to press and will take on Colleyville Heritage at 7:15 p.m. on Friday.

Grapevine lost to Colleyville 1-0 on Feb. 5, and Bullard said he expects the game with the Panthers to be about what one would expect in any sport between Grapevine and Colleyville Heritage, and hopefully be a part of the beginning of a good second half run for the Mustangs.

“It's going to be a tough game,” Bullard said. “Any time we play Colleyville, they want to beat us and we want to beat them. I guess it's bragging rights. There has been a rivalry since the school opened, and I am expecting a good game.

“But I do believe that if we can eliminate some mistakes, we have a good chance of making a second half run and hopefully making the playoffs. We've been in almost every game in district so far, and there is no reason we shouldn't be in every game in the second half.

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