Coach John Fazekas has been looking for his Mansfield boys soccer team to post a signature win, a game in which the Tigers show off their full potential.
It eluded them two weeks ago when Mansfield fell to top District 7-5A teams in Midlothian and Duncanville. Last week against Grand Prairie, Fazekas got what he was looking for.In what Fazekas described as a “must-win,” Mansfield dominated a solid Grand Prairie team 5-1 at Vernon Newsom Stadium. Mansfield leap-frogged Grand Prairie in the standings up to third place in District 7-5A.“This is what we’re capable of doing,” Fazekas said about the game. “It’s a statement to ourselves that we are good enough to compete.”The Tigers needed that statement because Fazekas has said all season that Mansfield’s greatest enemy has been the team’s own confidence. In the first half of the season, the team had the right energy and effort but the results weren’t there.That was due to Mansfield not being able to finish the opportunities it created with goals. Fazekas said the Tigers have lost a lot of 2-1 and 2-0 games that could have swung the other way.“We’ve got some kids new to the program, it’s taken us awhile to gel,” Fazekas said. “It’s better each week.”Mansfield’s rising confidence was on display last week against Grand Prairie. The Tigers scored the first two goals of the game and after that, Fazekas said his team started to roll.“Once we scored that first goal, we thought, we got the goal, now what’s happening? Do we give up a silly goal?” Fazekas said. “After the second goal, we thought we can do this. The confidence level kept building and building.”Chase Lankford scored the first two goals for Mansfield and finished with three goals and two assists. His final assist was in the 70th minute to Nathan McBride, who gave the Tigers their fifth and final goal.“The most important factor is we scored on our opportunities,” Fazekas said. “We finished the job. In past games we had many opportunities but we just couldn't get ball in the net. They played hard, aggressive and when we had opportunity to score they made sure it went in the net.”Now the key is keeping that performance bottled up to close the season. Fazekas admitted that’s the toughest part about last week’s win – the Tigers haven’t played a game in a week thanks to spring break.He hopes the Tigers didn’t lose that edge over the break.“We’re just staying positive with the guys, trying to get them to believe in themselves,” Fazekas said. “They're a good soccer team, we deserve better than what we’ve had. A lot has to do with us not fully being confident in ourselves. As the games go on, the more you play, the more confidence you have.”The playoffs are within grasp now for Mansfield, but it will take some work, which is unusual for a Fazekas team in a different sense. Fazekas has led Mansfield to the playoffs in every season since he’s been at the school.He thinks that the possibility of being the first team to miss the playoffs in his tenure is helping fuel his players desire to win. Last season, the Tigers made it to the state tournament.“The guys really came in focused to the game and knew what was on the line,” Fazekas said. “The Tiger pride came through with them. I’m sure they don't want to be the one team that doesn’t make it.”The ups and downs throughout this season have been a different experience for Fazekas as a coach. It’s one that’s a bit tougher, he said, but one he still relishes all the same, regardless of wins and losses.“It’s tough but at the same token, it's a challenge that I like,” he said. “I like that we still have a chance to make it, we’ve turned things around since the first half. I think us getting in playoffs would be a reward for working so hard.“If we don't make it, the kids have done their best, they've worked really hard. It’s just tough luck. I’m proud of them for what they’ve done.”Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
