Apaches soccer has playoff doubleheader in Seguin today at 6 and 8 p.m.

Gonzales High School’s boys and girls soccer teams will both be at Seguin High School on Friday, March 26 for the Bi-District round of the 4A playoffs against La Vernia. The girls play at 6 p.m. and the boys follow at 8 p.m.

Both teams finished in third place in 4A District 28 play. The boys went 4-4-2 in district and are 9-11-2 overall. The Lady Apaches finished 5-5 in district and are 8-10 overall. The boys and girls were each other first-year coaches in the husband-and-wife tandem of Charles and Karen Bunch.

La Vernia’ boys and girls teams each finished second in 4A District 27. The Bears were 7-2-1 in district and 15-7-5 overall. The Lady Bears went 9-0-3 in district and 15-8-2 overall.

The boys had five common opponents. 4A District 27 champion Pleasanton defeated the Bears twice (3-0, 2-0) and the Apaches once (5-1). The Bears beat district foe Poteet by scores of 5-1 and 12-0, while the Apaches posted an 8-0 win. Both team defeated La Grange and Davenport. The Apaches split its district games with Palacios (7-4, 1-2) while the Bears won 3-1.

“La Vernia is a very good team, that is obvious with a 7-2-1 district record and a second-place finish,” said Apaches head coach Charles Bunch. “We are excited about the opportunity to play another game this Friday in an amazing environment. The guys are ready to play, showing what they can do with a playoffs run.”

The Apaches have some much-needed momentum going into the playoffs, having won two in a row. On March 16, the Apaches handed Rockport-Fulton its only district loss other than to champion Calhoun, by an 8-3 scored. In a tune-up game on March 22 against La Grange, Duran Mendoza, Jonathan Tejada and Carlos Mendoza each scored in a 3-1 win.

The win streak snapped a four-game winless streak in which the Apaches had two 1-1 ties and a pair of 2-1 losses.

“We had gotten snake bitten the first four games of the second half and could not find the back of the net,” Charles Bunch said. “In those four games the time of possession and shots on frame where all in our favor but the scoreboard was not. 

“The guys kept working hard, supporting each other and never gave up. This all paid off in the last district game vs Rockport when we found the back of the net for eight goals.”

The Lady Apaches and Bears did not have a common opponent.

The Lady Apaches enter the playoffs on a three-game losing steak in which they’ve been outscored 14-2 and have been shutout twice.

“The girls are ready and very excited to see what they can do in the playoff this year,” said Karen Bunch. “This is the first time in a few years that Gonzales has had more than four teams in the district … that means that playoffs are not a given.

“Our senior class has had a new head coach all four years and has done a great job adapting to the new expectations and coaching philosophy.’

Tickets for the games in Seguin may be purchased for $5 by going to the Seguin High School web site and going to the “Athletics” tab.

Per Seguin ISD policy: No refunds. Clear bag policy in effect. No outside food or drinks will be permitted. No pets allowed. All fans are required to wear a mask and social distance responsibly.