By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The Rivera Raiders were one of many soccer teams around the state beginning workouts Monday as per UIL rules.
The weather wasn’t exactly ideal, with temperatures in the 50s and a slight drizzle falling, but no one was heard complaining about the conditions at the Raiders’ outdoor practice.
It seems a bad weather day with soccer is always preferable to a sunny day without the sport being played.
“It’s great,” said Hernan Cruz, a senior midfielder and one of two returning starters for the Raiders. “We were anxious, and we’ve been waiting for this day because we’re coming off a great season. This is a great opportunity to build another (successful) team.
“Thank God we’re here (practicing),” he added.
As hundreds of squads throughout Texas inaugurated a new season with their initial practices, the Raiders enter it with a unique distinction as defending Class 6A state champions.
Only Cruz and Eliezer “Chaii” Acero, also a senior, are back as starters from the Rivera team that went 28-0 last season and captured the first 6A title in boys soccer with a 2-0 victory against Katy Cinco Ranch in the state final April 18 at Georgetown.
Even though there are plenty of new faces for the Raiders on the varsity this season, there’s still a feeling among the coaches and players that Rivera will develop and eventually do well with basically a revised squad. The Raiders have qualified for the state playoffs during 23 of the past 24 seasons. The only time they didn’t advance to the postseason during that stretch was 2009.
In all, 15 players from last season’s squad are gone, including nine starters.
“The expectations are high again,” Raiders coach Salvador Garcia said. “Yes, we are a new team, and, yes, we have new faces. It’s a new beginning and a new chapter, but the expectations are the same. Around Rivera soccer we always have high, realistic expectations, and this year it’s not going to be any different.
“This team has faith and a belief (it can do well),” Garcia added. “It’s a team hungry to succeed. Any time you have those ingredients, good things are going to come out. That’s what we’re expecting.”
The Raiders will focus on conditioning during the next month or so, their coach said.
Like other soccer players in Brownsville and throughout South Texas, the athletes have been playing more or less year-round. Now it’s a matter of being in shape and fine-tuning their skills before the regular season begins Jan. 7. Teams can start scrimmaging Dec. 28.
“We have chemistry, and that’s very important from the beginning because this team can do so many things,” said Acero, a team captain along with Cruz who figures to play in the midfield and maybe some at forward this season. “I just want to show the guys that I’m not going to give up that easy. It’s going to take a lot for something like that to happen. It’s a big responsibility for me and the other seniors on this team (to be leaders), but I can handle it.”
Added Jose “Memito” Villanueva, a senior sweeper and a member of the varsity last season, “I see our team full of potential. We just need to expand it starting in the preseason, and hopefully we can get things done. I feel confident. It’s a new season but the same goal. With God’s help and working hard, I feel we’ll do great.
“I would just say never count us out,” he added.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.