Hill Country youth soccer club teaching kids to win on field and in life
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
BURNET — Learning about soccer and life are part of the objectives of the Hill Country FC Soccer Club.
After a few victories on the pitch, players scored again when they loaded up a 26-foot box truck full of small furniture, clothes and miscellaneous items to give to Goodwill Industries.
“It was inspired by our desire to be citizens of our community and to teach the kids this skill,” said Clayton Patterson, director of the club. “We are helping Goodwill Industries educate and provide jobs for those they serve, and they also provide a donation back to the club, helping us to try to keep competitive soccer at a more affordable cost.”
The club draws players from Burnet, Marble Falls, Kingsland, Granite Shoals and Lampasas.
At a tournament on Sept. 14 at Haley Nelson Park, the Hill Country FC 9-and-under recreational and red team defeated the Austin Texans Red Devils 7-3, while the Hill Country FC 10-and-under squad slipped by the Austin Texans Manchester United 2-1 and the Hill Country FC 11-and-under team beat the Mission City Sasa U11 Boys 2-1.
Defense determines the success of a squad, Patterson said.
“Playing great defense in soccer is a team effort,” he said. “Not everyone can pressure the ball at the same time, but, by using a first defender, second defender skill, the players work as a team to prevent penetration by the opponent. Also, our players provided great hustle and heart to lock down the opposing team.”
The Hill Country FC 9-and-under and 10-and-under teams are recreation plus red clubs, which mean the squads play opponents that have been playing longer as a group, Patterson said.
The 11-and-under squad is a Super Two team that faces squads from the San Antonio and Austin area. Those opponents also have been playing as a group longer, he said.
Patterson helped create the Hill Country FC Soccer Club with the aim of developing players to fulfill the ultimate goal, he said.
“The soccer skills we teach the players are to get them prepared for the Olympic Development Program,” he said. “Hill Country FC’s main goal is not only to develop players’ skills in soccer but in life and be a true citizen of their community. We aim to build players that are leaders in life and on the pitch.”
To learn more about the club, contact Patterson at hillcountryfc@gmail.com.
jfierro@thepicayune.com
[tabs style=”default”] [tab title=”RESULTS”]
TOP SCORERS FOR 9-AND-UNDER: Goals – Fernando Arreguin 7, Abner Solorzano 1
TOP SCORERS FOR 10-AND-UNDER: Goals – Jackson Patterson 1, Cesar Jaramillo 1
TOP SCORERS FOR 11-AND-UNDER: Goals – Alex Monzon 1 (penalty kick), Jacob Saldierna 1
[/tab] [tab title=”PHOTO 2″]
Adrian Campuzano, a member of the Hill Country FC Soccer Club 10-and-under team, dribbles the ball through the defense.
[/tab] [tab title=”PHOTO 3″]
Jackson Patterson, a member of the Hill Country FC Soccer Club 10-and-under team, reads the defense before he decides what to do with the ball.
[/tab] [tab title=”PHOTO 4″]
Adrian Campuzano, a member of the Hill Country FC Soccer Club 10-and-under team, protects the goal as teammate Jeremy Reyes comes from behind to close the gap while goalie Avery Holcomb stays alert.
[/tab] [/tabs]