TEMPLE, Texas — The Lamar Middle School Bearcat soccer team wrapped up their season on May 15 with a thrilling, hard-fought round-robin tournament at the Travis Science Academy Field.

Featuring a combined roster of resilient 7th and 8th-grade athletes, the Bearcats laced up for a pair of intense, 30-minute matches against their local Temple ISD rivals: the Travis Science Academy Mustangs and the Bonham Middle School Bulldogs.

Here is how the action unfolded on the pitch:

Game 1: Mustangs Hold Their Ground

In the opening match of the afternoon, the Bearcats squared off against a sharp Travis Science Academy squad. Playing on their home turf, the Mustangs managed to control the tempo early on. Despite a valiant defensive effort and several gritty stops by the Bearcats, Travis found the back of the net three times, handing Lamar a tough 3-0 defeat to start the tournament.

Game 2: Salgado Spark Ignites Dramatic Comeback

Refusing to let the opening loss define their final day on the pitch, the Bearcats showed immense character in their second match against the Bonham Middle School Bulldogs.
The game initially looked like uphill sledding for Lamar, as a clinical Bonham offense jumped out to a commanding 2-0 lead. With the clock ticking away on their season, the Bearcats refused to pack it in.
Rallying behind a spectacular offensive surge, Lamar's Amel Salgado took the game into his own hands. Salgado delivered a stunning pair of goals to electrify the Lamar sideline and completely erase the deficit. The dramatic comeback secured a 2-2 draw against the Bulldogs as the final whistle blew.

"The heart shown by these players to battle back from two goals down in the final game of the year says everything you need to know about this group," said the Lamar coaching staff.

With the 2026 middle school soccer season now in the books, this combined 7th and 8th-grade Bearcat squad proved that they have the grit, talent, and never-say-die attitude to lay a bright foundation for the future of Temple soccer.