By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
One journey is complete and another is beginning for the Porter Cowboys in soccer.
The Cowboys, ranked No. 1 in the Rio Grande Valley by RGVSports.com, finished their regular season as District 32-5A champions with a 14-0 record and 42 points thanks an 8-1 triumph over Mercedes on Monday at home.
Next up for the Cowboys is the postseason.
“We feel very happy because God granted us the victory today,” said Alexis Armendariz, a junior forward who recorded a pair of first-half goals to highlight the win. “I’m very proud of my team. Now we want to keep going forward (in the playoffs).We feel very good, but we want more (than the district trophy).”
The Cowboys are expected to face Edinburg Vela or Sharyland Pioneer on March 24 in the Class 5A bi-district playoffs.
Porter led comfortably 5-1 at halftime Monday.
Armendariz’s header a little more than four minutes into the match made it 1-0 and started Porter’s first-half scoring spree.
Before the half ended, Porter added goals by Alexis Anzures (13th minute), Ricky Vidal (20th minute), Omar Estrada (32nd minute) and another tally by Armendariz (also in the 32nd minute).
During the 34th minute, a Mercedes’ shot somehow slipped out of the Porter goalkeeper’s hands and rolled into an open net to give the Tigers (3-11, nine points) their lone goal and made it 5-1 at intermission.
Mercedes had only 12 players dressed out for the game.
Porter’s Uriel Sepulveda scored within the first minute of the second half to boost the lead to 6-1.
Completing the second-half scoring for Porter were Daniel Briseno on a 20-yard free kick from the right side during the 74th minute and Sepulveda on a close-range header during the 77th minute.
The Cowboys beat the Tigers 6-0 during the first half of district on Feb. 16 in Mercedes.
Porter coach Jose Espitia said his team kept its focus to finish its 32-5A schedule undefeated and now will set its sights on the playoffs.
“Our guys have been practically perfect throughout the season, including district competition,” Espitia said. “Getting this (district championship) was just another one of their goals. We’re happy to be able to accomplish it, but again, starting tomorrow, we’ll be focusing on our bi-district match and getting ready for the next season, which is the playoffs. Hopefully we can continue playing the same way in the postseason.”