Having won bi-district matches in each of the last three years, several members of the A&M Consolidated Tigers felt right at home in the first round of the playoffs.
This time, they will literally be at home.
The Tigers (14-9-1), the runners-up from District 12-5A with an 11-2-1 league mark, welcome third-place Tyler Lee to Tigerland Stadium on Tuesday. The Red Raiders (7-6-5) placed third in District 11-5A with a 4-4-2 record.
Bryan's boys (8-11-2) face Mesquite (16-6) at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Waco ISD Stadium.
Lee has been a consistent contender over the years. Rich Brands is in his 23rd season as coach at Lee and 25th overall. He has coached 13 district champions and two state finalists with the Raiders.
"They obviously have a great history," Consol coach Chris Kovacs said. "Rich does a great job with the guys in that program."
Kovacs never had the chance to scout Tyler Lee, but he says the Raiders appear to focus on defense, like most District 11-5A teams.
"They are pretty stingy," Kovacs said. "They gave up eight goals and have scored 12 goals in district play. You just have to take care of business and do what you do."
The Tigers have 52 goals, playing a 14-game schedule in 12-5A. Consol's defense has been solid as well, allowing just 14 goals.
The district stats are skewed by the fact that Tyler Lee plays a 10-game district schedule. Junior Jesus Villegas and senior Carson Fugate have both seen extensive time at goalkeeper.
"We have two extra teams, but for [11-5A teams], every game counts," Kovacs said. "It looked like in their top three of John Tyler, Mesquite and Tyler Lee that any one of them could have been district champs."
Offensively, junior midfielder Lee Cordova leads Lee. He shared the district's most outstanding midfielder award as a sophomore.
For Consol, it's maintaining intensity throughout the game.
"We have 12 seniors and some have been playing since they were sophomores," Kovacs said. "We have a lot of guys with playoff experience, some with six games, and they come in knowing when the atmosphere is right, with that sense of urgency."
A deep pool of capable goal scorers helps Kovacs.
"We have pretty good balance, but Ryan Armatys has had some big goals," Kovacs said. "[Junior] Nicos Georghiades is a good goal-scorer and [sophomore] Kolby Graff has done a great job."
For individual stats, players are credited with two points for a goal and one for an assist. The Tigers have seven players with double-digit points.
Bryan follows its girls team in Waco, facing 11-5A champion Mesquite, which was 6-4 in district play.
"They've tied three or four of their district games, so defensively they are a pretty stout team," Bryan coach Tommie Allmon said of the Skeeters. "I couldn't find out anything about their kids, at least not anybody that stands out. They may be so good that they spread it around."
Mo Camara is one of the leading goal-scorers for Mesquite. Camara got the season going well, with goals in each of the Skeeters' first four games, all wins.
Bryan last played a week ago Monday, at the beginning of spring break, and lost at Harker Heights. The diverse play in 12-5A and their overall strength of schedule may help the Vikings, Allmon said.
"The top five teams were good, with the playoff teams and Harker Heights," Allmon said. "Almost everyone we played made the playoffs in either 5A or 4A: Conroe, Cy-Woods, Montgomery, Willis. It's not like we played anyone weak. We're confident because we played a good schedule."
Alex Cruz and Fabian Guerrero lead Bryan's attack, but eight different players have scored goals.