BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
PHARR — The PSJA Southwest Javelinas boys soccer team was just 2 minutes from securing a win in regulation. Then, Southwest senior Uriel Garcia was a questionable call from clinching the game with seconds remaining in overtime.
Stepping up to the final penalty kick with a chance to lock up the victory, Garcia would not be denied any longer. He took just a single step, powered the ball into the top of the net and set off a celebration with his teammates as PSJA Southwest claimed a 2-1 (4-3 in PKs) Class 5A regional quarterfinal win over the Donna High Redskins on Tuesday at PSJA Stadium.
“I told them, this is how playoffs are,” Garcia said. “We could never give up. We have to keep going until someone wins the game. We knew that someone had to come out victorious. We had to keep fighting until we got it.”
PSJA Southwest moves on to face either Vandegrift or Alamo Heights at noon Friday in Corpus Christi.
The Javelinas have reached the fourth round of the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
“Our emotions right now are very happy,” Garcia said. “We’re proud we made it so far. We knew it was going to be a hard game. We knew we couldn’t underestimate them. And we did what we had to do.”
Southwest came within 1:50 of closing the game out in regulation before Ricky Ramos netted the tying goal for Donna High.
After the Redskins switched to a four-forward attack to try to generate an equalizer, Donna sent a long pass into the box. Southwest keeper Diego Blanco inadvertently punched the ball towards the middle of the field, where Ramos was waiting to finish into an empty net.
Suddenly, Donna High was the team celebrating, as PSJA Southwest tried to regain its composure.
“During the intermission, I talked to the boys and said, ‘We’ve been here before,’” PSJA Southwest coach Jesus Palomin said. “Everybody was saying, ‘Hey coach, we got it. It’s not our first rodeo. Trust us.’”
The Javelinas looked the part of the experienced team in extra time, controlling the ball and generating numerous scoring opportunities.
Garcia thought he had netted with winner with just 18 seconds remaining, taking control of the ball just feet from net and poking it in with the side of his foot. But the referees called a handball on Garcia, putting confused looks on the faces of Southwest players as Palomin threw his hat to the turf in anger and disbelief.
“They called a handball, but so be it,” Palomin said. “I’m very proud of my boys, how they kept their composure and stuck to what they knew how to do. It was questionable, but it made it a thriller.”
Donna took an early advantage in the penalty shootout. Eduardo Escobar tucked a shot into the top right corner of the net, and keeper Elias De La Rosa made the opening save with a lunge to his left. But Donna’s Jose Guadalupe Gonzalez missed the team’s next attempt, and Southwest’s Blanco dove to his right to get a fist on Giovanni Coronado’s shot, Donna’s third. Francisco Montoya, Angel Morales, Miguel Vasquez (who scored Southwest’s lone goal in regulation) and finally Garcia all tallied to give Southwest the win.
The loss ends Donna High’s surprising run through the playoffs. The Redskins finished fifth in the District 32-5A standings before earning a playoff berth due to UIL rules violations by Donna North. Donna upset Sharyland High in the bi-district round and then beat Medina Valley to set up Tuesday’s matchup.
“Very proud of these kids,” Donna coach Mario Hernandez said. “Very proud of my team. We played against a very good team, and I know they’re going to do good at regionals.”