Boys’ soccer advances to playoffs after Heritage forced to forfeit games

March 22, 2024

Rather than sitting and watching the action on the field, the boys’ soccer team found themselves watching a UIL appeal on Thursday after the first place team in District 10-5A was ruled to have used an ineligible player. Heritage’s appeal was denied, forcing the Coyotes to forfeit sevan games and pushing the Redhawks from 5th place to 4th place and a playoff bid.

Finishing their District 10-5A season 5-6-3 in fifth place, it seemed to be the end of the road for Redhawks boys’ soccer. But a rumor that turned out to be true, dug the Redhawks out of their hole.

Sitting top of the table Heritage High School, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) declared the Coyotes would have to forfeit seven of their games with Heritage appealing the decision.

Even though all other districts were celebrating making playoffs after the final district game on Tuesday, District 10-5A had to sit and wait for Heritage’s case results.

“I was really nervous watching the trail with my friends,” junior Lucas Godoy said. “Especially when it looked like it was going in their direction and knowing that it was out of our control.”

Midday Thursday news broke with a vote of 4-2 the Heritage appeal was denied, putting the Redhawks fourth in the district and advancing to playoffs for the first time in two years.

“I was relieved when I saw it was denied,” senior Ryan Lee said. “Although this wasn’t the path we wanted into the playoffs, I was very happy to still get into it.”

The team will now take on Wakeland, the winners of District 9-5A, Tuesday at Indpendence.

“We have been acting like we’re going [to playoffs] just to be ready,” head coach Evan McGee said. “You know, if our name got called up.”