Union High School’s soccer team continues to make program history, following a hard-fought 1-1 draw on October 14 against East Columbus. The result came on the road in a challenging matchup that tested the Spartans’ composure and teamwork as they near the end of a record-setting season.
According to head coach Cruz, the draw wasn’t the outcome they had hoped for, but it became a valuable building block heading into their final stretch.
“We went in there on Wednesday to East Columbus and didn’t quite put it together,” Cruz said. “We were a little off and ended up in a tie,” Cruz stated
The Oct. 14 contest finished as a 1-1 final, bringing Union’s overall record to 11-6-2 and 7-2-2 in conference play, keeping the Spartans near the top of the standings. The result also reflected the steady progress of a team that has been gaining confidence throughout the season.
That momentum carried over into the following home match, played on Senior Night, where Union found its rhythm and captured a 5-4 victory over the Hobbton Wildcats, further solidifying its place in the conference race. For Coach Cruz, that win meant much more than a number in the standings.
“It was a must-win for us,” he said. “It could’ve gone either way, but it was Senior Night, and we gave it all we had. We were able to win 5-4, and now we’ve got one last game of the season coming up against Hobbton. That one’s going to determine a lot of where we end up in the conference.” With that win, it brought the Spartans to 12-6-2 (7-2-2), currently sitting second in the conference.
That upcoming match carries added weight for the Spartans. Union has never finished atop the conference standings in program history, a milestone that Cruz and his players are determined to reach.
“This is a very important game for us,” Cruz said. “Union has never been on top of the conference in the history of our soccer program, so we’re at a point where we can really make things happen. We’re grateful that we’ve stayed healthy, and we wish the best to all the other teams as well.”
The matchup with Hobbton also represents more than just another conference fixture—it’s a rivalry that has grown stronger over the years. Cruz noted that Hobbton’s long-standing success has fueled Union’s desire to reach that same level.
“We really haven’t beaten Hobbton in ten years,” he said. “The reason we’re being competitive with them is because they’ve been on top for many years; now we’re rising. The middle school won their conference championship yesterday, and the JV team is probably going to win theirs. We’re becoming a rising soccer school.”
Cruz credited that growth to the program’s commitment to developing players at every level, emphasizing how the success of the younger squads points toward a bright future.
“I think we have a bright future for Union soccer,” he said. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work and dedication from the coaches. The coaches have to have high expectations for this talent that we have, it requires that. You can have talent, but if you don’t have the right coaching pushing you, you won’t get anywhere. It’s a lot of responsibility on us as coaches.”
The coach also expressed appreciation for the growing community support and the shared sense of pride surrounding Union’s soccer rise.
“I want to thank God, our principal, our athletic director, and our coaches from the middle school and JV,” Cruz said. “We’re setting the bar high for our players, and they’re meeting it. I feel like the support is growing, and now that we have a program that’s developing, the community is going to come around even more.”
As Union prepares for its decisive conference matchup with Hobbton, the Spartans do so knowing they’ve already achieved something special—establishing themselves as a contender and bringing new energy to a proud soccer program on the rise.