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Temple’s Marissa Cervantez dribbles the ball in front of Cedar Park’s Alissa Scott during the Tem-Cats’ 2-1 playoff loss Tuesday. (Scott Gaulin/Telegram)

Before his team’s Class 5A bi-district playoff match against District 14-5A champion Cedar Park, Temple girls soccer coach Oscar Bersoza gave his team a March Madness-like pep talk, asking, “Why not us? Why not now?”

Costly errors on both Cedar Park goals prevented the Tem-Cats from pulling the upset as the Lady Timberwolves slipped past Temple 2-1 on Tuesday night at Woodson Field.

“We played hard, but a couple of mistakes on their goals was the difference,” Bersoza said.

The Tem-Cats, who finished fourth in 13-5A, ended their season with a 9-10-4 record. Cedar Park (17-4) advanced to the area round later this week to face The Woodlands College Park, which defeated Klein Collins 4-1.

Temple, which had not scored a goal in 11 of its 22 games coming into Tuesday, jumped on the Lady Timberwolves in the 19th minute.

Marissa Cervantez received a corner kick and found Kristen Kylberg in front of a crowded net for a 1-0 lead. Kylberg’s score came on the Tem-Cats’ first shot of the game and gave Temple much-needed momentum.

“It was huge,” Bersoza said of Kylberg’s goal. “When you put that goal in, you almost start to believe. It was huge and if nothing else it was a mental boost.”

Courtney Warren answered for Cedar Park in the 24th minute. After a Temple defender misplayed the ball, LeShea Millard fed Warren to tie the game at 1.

Another misplay by two Tem-Cat defenders in front of the net in the 60th minute allowed Warren to beat goalkeeper Katy Houchin in the left corner for a 2-1 lead.

Unable to control possession for nearly all of the second half, the Tem-Cats mustered one last rally.

With less than 6 minutes remaining, Sam Kirchhoff fed a wide-open Cervantez, who kicked the ball over the net. Thirty seconds later, Cervantez misfired again and the Tem-Cats never got off another shot.

Temple managed just five shots in the game, while Houchin made 24 saves.

“It was a tough one for us,” Bersoza said. “We played to our max and came up short. At the end of the day, that’s all I can ask from my girls, is to give me your hearts."

cmeister@temple-telegram.com