On March 27, Bellaire varsity boys soccer fell short to Dobie High School 5-4 in overtime. The Cards ended the season with an overall record of 16-4-4, a complete turnaround from the 2025 season, when the team went 3-15.

Over 100 students made the trip to Veterans Memorial Stadium to support the Cardinals. Students packed the stands and led chants.

“We definitely weren’t expecting so many people to be at our game,” senior captain and midfielder Sayf Elkousy said. “I think our players feed off the energy of the crowd. I think that what makes our supporters unique is that they’re equally loud during our goals as they are when we make mistakes.”

Dobie was playing an extremely physical game, constantly pushing and knocking down the Cardinals. Within the first five minutes, Dobie put themselves on the scoreboard claiming an early lead. Bellaire and Dobie exchanged shots on goal, but senior and midfielder Arturo Garcia found the back of the net, making the score 1-1.

“I think that our slow start to the game allowed their physicality to play an important factor in dispossessing us and scoring,” Elkousy said. “But I think that we woke up after our first goal and were able to match their physicality very well.”

Dobie expanded their lead to 3-1 with two goals within four minutes of each other. With six minutes left in the first half, Elkousy scored, helping the Cards go into halftime down 3-2.

“My first goal was actually an own goal by the other team,” Elkousy said. “The fact that it brought us within one goal of tying the score allowed us to play with more composure and take control of the game.”

As the Cards reentered the field to start the second half, the crowd was loud and encouraging. Bellaire made a goalie switch, putting in senior Hayden Tucker. Tucker made a big save, helping the Cards gain momentum. However, with 27 minutes left in the second half, Dobie scored, furthering their lead to 4-2. Freshman and midfielder Matthew Davies also played a key role as multiple players experienced injuries.

“My main focus when I went in was to bring energy and support in the middle,” Davies said. “People are typically tired by the time I get in and I try to lift the intensity however I can. I remember to trust myself on the ball and be aggressive on defense. My main focus is to do whatever I can to not let my team down and win.”

With the crowd on their feet, Elkousy scored followed by another goal by senior midfielder Carlos Jasso to make the score 4-4 with 13 minutes left in the second half.

“Everybody on our team was so motivated after we scored,” Jasso said. “But we had to stay on a low block because our other players were injured.”

As pressure remained high, Dobie had a chance to score with a corner kick, but Tucker made a big save to keep the score tied. The Cardinals matched the physicality of Dobie, but with two minutes left, co-captain Joshua Mathesien was on the floor holding his leg, limping off the field. However, he found his way back on the field despite his physical discomfort. Dobie got one last shot on goal before the end of regulation, resulting in overtime. Overtime consisted of two 10-minute halves with a five-minute halftime.

“In the beginning of overtime, we put an extra midfielder in to have four in the middle, leaving Josh as our one striker,” Davies said.

Going into overtime, Bellaire kept Dobie scoreless with only one shot on goal, which was saved by the Dobie goalie.

Bellaire kept Dobie scoreless, while also having the only shot in the half.

With ten minutes left for the Cards, pressure remained high and players had to focus on what was in front of them.

The last ten minutes of overtime consisted of:

A goal by senior and striker Joshua Mathiesen to make it 5-4, however it was disallowed due to

offsides. The score stayed 4-4.

Dobie scored, putting them up 5-4 with seven minutes left.

Senior goalie David Camerlo had to be walked off the field after sustaining a hairline fracture to his scapula.

The clock hit zero and the final whistle flew, marking the official end of the Cardinals’ season. Bellaire ended their historic run being applauded by fans and students in the stands.

The Cards will graduate 15 seniors, who all made their mark in the Bellaire soccer history books.

“Playing with seniors has been amazing,” Davies said. “All the seniors support and motivate me no matter the circumstance and I am grateful that I get to play with them. I will miss those boys very much.”