By Jim Irish
Photos by Chris White, BISD communications specialist
Ezra Gaona knows his position as a goalkeeper.
Gaona, a four-year member of Bastrop’s varsity squad, pulled the Bears through on a nail biter in the shootout against Sharpstown in the area round of the soccer playoffs at Bryan on Monday.
He stopped two of the four penalty kicks from 12 yards by Sharpstown as Bastrop won the shootout 4-2 to hand the Bears the victory. The official score was 1-1 after regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods.
On the first penalty kick by Sharpstown’s Josue Kouadio, Gaona moved to his left and stopped it with his gloves.
Sharpstown’s second and third kickers converted their penalty kicks. But on the fourth kick, Gaona dove to his right to stop Wilmer Amaya, provoking a wild celebration by Bastrop players and fans.
Bastrop’s four shooters (in order) — Aaron Arellano, Anthony Reyes, Angel Chavez, and Gustavo Sanchez — all converted their penalty kicks.
Gaona, a student of the sport, approaches penalty kicks with knowledge gained from experience. He trained with a Juventus squad in Italy last summer.
"They told me, ‘Just breathe, look at where the player’s eyes are going, and they’ll inch toward the side they’re gonna go,” said Gaona, who will attend college in Manchester, England this fall and play for a lower level professional team. "I went the right way four times, got a hand on three, saved two. That's how I did it. I use what God gave me as gift. I give glory to Him."
"... I went the right way four times, got a hand on three, saved two. That's how I did it. I use what God gave me as a gift. I give glory to Him."
-- Bastrop goalkeeper Ezra Gaona
Greg Vuagniaux has been watching Gaona perform for three years, first as an assistant coach and currently as head coach.
"He’s been in pressure situations before,” said Vuagniaux, who admitted he doesn’t watch shootouts because of anxiety. "(I have) a lot of confidence in that kid."
Vuagniaux’s philosophy on shootout kicks is "placement first, power second.”
Sharpstown coach Greg Boulus praised Gaona.
"Sometimes the keeper will anticipate one side or the other,” he said. "(Gaona) got right on those two. … He did a great job.”
"(Gaona) got right on those two. ... He did a great job."
-- Sharpstown coach Greg Boulus
Both teams played with aggression through the 80 minutes of regulation. As a result, Sharpstown earned three yellow cards, while Bastrop was whistled for one by Isaac Dugger.
Bastrop (16-1-3) controlled the ball more often, which resulted in nine corner kicks in the second half alone. But it wasn’t able to convert.
"(I have a lot of confidence in that kid."
-- Bastrop coach Greg Vuagniaux about Gaona
Sharpstown (15-9) had the only shot on goal in the first overtime period.
Both teams may have been fatigued after 90 minutes of play. In the 3rd minute of the second overtime, Bastrop’s corner kick rolled around in front of the goal as Sharpstown desperately attempted to clear it. The ball landed at Bastrop striker Cayden Justice’s feet who blasted it past Sharpstown goalie Robbi Makumba from short range for a 1-0 lead.
Sharpstown appeared discouraged following Justice’s goal. In the ninth minute, Justice had another opportunity from the left side, but his kick struck the left post.
Sharpstown counterattacked. It struck a long pass, which Bastrop’s back line didn’t expect. The kick bounced over their heads with Kouadio reaching it and lifting it with precision over Gaona’s head for the tying goal with less than a minute remaining in the second overtime.
Vuagniaux said Bastrop committed an error in time management that allowed the tying goal.
"In a situation like that when you’re up a goal and you only have a minute left, I try to stress to the kids, ‘Just take it to the corner flag and shield the ball. Kill the clock.’ “
Nonetheless, it concluded well for Bastrop.
"They want this journey to continue,” Vuagniaux said.
Bastrop collides with Lake Creek in regional quarterfinals at Brenham
Bastrop will challenge Lake Creek (16-4-3) in the regional simifinals at Cub Stadium in Brenham at 7 p.m. on Friday. Lake Creek edged Port Neches 2-1 in the area round.
Jim Irish is a freelance writer in Bastrop, Texas
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