Boys soccer: Highland knocks off Bishop Noll

Updated: October 3, 2011 7:00PM

HIGHLAND — The table was set perfectly for a Highland upset. Seniors’ last home game. Playing against arguably the best team in the area in Bishop Noll. Noll has very little to prove at this stage in the season, and Highland’s playing its best soccer late into the season.

Even though it didn’t start looking like an upset in the first 20 minutes of the game after a Angel Zamudio goal, Highland kept battling and prevailed 3-2 in come-from-behind fashion.

Three unanswered goals over the next 40 minutes after Zamudio’s goal were enough to hold off the Warriors, who put on a furious rally of their own. But Highland keeper Mike Anderson got in their way down the stretch.

“It was a battle,” Highland coach Mirko Maric said. “I don’t know if our kids had something to prove or not, but they (Noll) were coming in as the No. 1 team in the area and our kids wanted to prove something going into sectionals.”

“It was a statement game for us,” added Maric.

Highland (9-6-1) tied the game at 1-1 before the end of the first half on Alex Young’s goal. A perfect pass from Danny Alamillo set up the play.

The duo would connect again in the second half, but in reverse roles with Young placing a good ball on Alamillo’s foot this time as the junior found the back of the net, giving his team a 2-1 advantage with 31:23 to play.

Connor Moynihan joined the goal barrage with his own blast that proved to be the game-winner with 23:51 to go.

But Bishop Noll (12-3-2) had more pride and fight left as the Warriors kept the pressure on for the remainder of the game. Luis Soto drew the Warriors within one with his solo poke past Anderson to make it 3-2.

Anderson, a senior saved five balls during the last eight minutes of the game.

His diving save with 5.5 seconds left sealed the win.

“I give all the credit to my defense,” Anderson said.

“I can only do so much, but they played great today being that it was our last home game.”

That goalie made a couple of pretty saves,” Bishop Noll head coach Armando Garza said.

“We made a couple defense mistakes today, but I was just trying to keep our guys healthy heading into sectionals,” Bishop Noll head coach Armando Garza said.

“We had nothing to play for after we won our conference.”

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