North Texas Show Us They Can Still Be Special
After a big 1-0 away win at Ventura County, North Texas have an opportunity to finish the season strong.
On Sunday night, away from home, North Texas Soccer Club found the performance and lifeline they were looking for, as a Sam Sarver penalty strike and strong defensive team performance gave the Frisco-based side a marquee win, 1-0, against a good Ventura County team. It was sorely needed. It was overdue. After a strange and disappointing August, the result reminds this young side what they are still capable of, if they can find the leadership and the mentality to do it.
“I thought we played well against a top four team in the league. I think in the first half, we had a really good plan against them. We got the goal from a penalty kick that I thought we thoroughly deserved,” head coach John Gall told media. “In the second half, they were going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at us. They are a team that scores a lot of goals and to shut them out was huge. It showed me a lot of determination and grit. We've been on our heels a little bit over the last couple of weeks, and to come here and get a clean sheet, and obviously, for JT (Harms) to step up the way that he did was great to see. But it's not surprising for me. I know this team has this in their tool belt, and it's just been a matter of time to kind of get it out of them over the last couple of games. We certainly did that. You know, you come away from home, you get a goal, and you get a clean sheet, and it's going to be a good flight home.”
Sam Sarver’s goal was his 16th of the year, a team leading stat that showed why he is sorely missed but also deservedly now with the first team.
The same questions that we have asked all season long linger for this team.
Can they find scoring when Sam Sarver is not in the game day side?
Can they find consistency from their goalkeeper and defensive lineup?
With five games left, the opportunity is there.
Will the mentality be there?
Taking it a step further, three of the next five games are at home. You expect points at home, no matter the opponent. The other two have importance as well, especially a season ending game against Los Angeles FC 2 who embarrassed North Texas in their most recent matchup.
As it stands, North Texas sit at 34 points in 9th place, separated by Minnesota United FC 2 on goal differential at 8th. Every point here on out matters to work their way into a final playoff spot. In fact, they play at Minnesota in three weeks, a matchup that could swing them into a confident position ahead of the postseason.
But they will have to dig deep and build off of the crucial Sunday night result to do so.
Our refrain all season on the podcast has been that North Texas will figure it out late and work their way into the postseason. Depending on the first team situation, which is just as complicated, the team could go in and make a strong run with a few extra bodies (like Sarver) to help things out. But they need to qualify first and get help from youngsters like Faisu Sangare on the offensive side of things.
Sunday was a start. Let’s see North Texas carry that forward over the next few weeks.