SOUTHLAKE - After falling behind 1-0, Argyle stormed back with four goals to beat Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis 4-1 on Tuesday in the Class 4A Region I quarterfinals.
Fernando Licona and Chad Hedlund led the way with two goals each as the Eagles used the same formula as they did in their previous game, when they beat Aledo 4-1 in the sectional round.
"It's a dream season in just our third year of existence," said Argyle head coach Marc Koke. "We're a 3A school going to a 4A regional tournament. That's huge. That's big for us. I don't think we're done yet."
Argyle (25-1-1) found itself trailing early again as Diamond Hill-Jarvis took a 1-0 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the first half. Juan Villalpando sent a lobbing pass from 40 yards out to a streaking Jon Martinez, who had distanced himself from two Argyle defenders to find himself all alone with Argyle goalkeeper Jay Darby, and put a small touch on the shot over the head of Darby for the goal.
Five minutes later, Francisco Munoz sent an inside pass to Martinez, who sent a low shot to the left side of the goal, but Darby made the diving save to keep the score at 1-0.
"We've come back from one-goal deficits," Koke said, "but we've never had to come back from a two-goal deficit. That was unbelievable. He [Darby] had the game of his life. Three or four of those saves he made tonight are highlight-reel stuff. We've come to expect it. He's a Jedi."
Backed by Darby's key saves, the Eagles stuck with their fast-paced offense and broke through with less than three minutes to play in the half.
Hedlund won a battle in the midfield, sent a high lead pass over the head of Ian Sadler. A Diamond Hill-Jarvis defender fell down, and Sadler collided with Brandol Contreras. Licona beat his man to the ball to clean up the rebound and sent a slow rolling shot that took its time to find its way inside the right post.
Mats Wolthuis had to leave the game with concussion symptoms as he collided in mid-air with a Diamond Hill-Jarvis player as they both attempted to head the ball, which forced Koke to tinker with his lineup.
"He's one of our main guys out there," Koke said of Wolthuis. "We had to drop Ian back to center midfielder to play his position and we didn't really miss a beat."
Argyle took the lead 11 minutes into the second half and never looked back. Dylan Jourdan took a pass down the left side of the field with two defenders between him and Hedlund that were out of position, and sent a pass through the box to a streaking Hedlund, who buried the goal past the out-of-position Contreras.
"They were very unselfish," Koke said. "That's a big deal when you're one-on-one with the keeper and you work to set up one of your teammates, draw the defense in, and lay it off for your teammates. In years past, we might have rushed it, but we remained patient."
Diamond Hill-Jarvis attempted a comeback with constant pressure and gained several corners that led to eventual inside shots, but were unable to capitalize.
Argyle sealed the win as both Licona and Hedlund added goals in the last 10 minutes of the game.
"We've got some good guys off the bench," Koke said. "Fernando was a starter for us last year, has kind of taken on a bench role this year. He was thrust back out in that starter position when Mats went down. We don't have much depth, but we have some quality guys that can come off the bench."
