By JOSHUA McKINNEY, Staff Writer
It’s all Brownsville everything for the Region IV-5A championship.
Lazaro Cordova’s header gave the Pace Vikings a 2-1 victory over the Vandegrift Vipers in a Region IV-5A semifinal match Friday at Cabaniss Field in Corpus Christi.
The victory set up a regional championship match with District 32-5A and crosstown rival Porter.
Cordova’s goal capped an almost dead-even and physical matchup between two teams fighting for a spot in the regional championship.
“It was an intense game,” Pace coach Mario Zamora said. “Since the beginning, we knew it was going to be a tough game. Every game is a final now. It doesn’t matter if you win 1-0, 2-1. The important thing is to get that W and get ready for the final.”
Efrain Gutierrez crossed came from the right flank to the near post, where Cordova headed in the match winner with less than five minutes to go.
“Before the second half had started I told Efrain to send me that cross from the other side,” Cordova said. “I told him to cross to me before and he did it, and I was actually able to cross it into the net.”
Pace took the lead during the eighth minute when Geovani Martinez fought his way through traffic in the box to score.
Vandegrift earned a penalty kick during the 36th minute to give the team its first real chance at a goal.
Austin Morrow took the penalty and shot it past Pace goalkeeper Ervin Rocha knot it up at 1.
The Vikings played aggressively in the second half and put the pressure on Vandegrift, earning two yellow cards in the process. But the approach paid off when Cordova’s goal went through.
“This type of game, it’s about giving it all,” Zamora said. “Make no mistakes or make the less mistakes that you can and finish your opportunities on top, and be solid on defense.”
Vandegrift coach Chad Aldrich said his team broke several school records on its way to a regional semifinal run, including a school record for most wins in a season (19).
“It was a battle. Both teams deserved it, and one came out on top,” Aldrich said. “They played strong tonight. They played very well. We had a hell of a season but they did too. At the end of the day, one team advances. It’s as simple as that.”
The Vipers had one shot on target during the second half, a shot in the 44th minute that Rocha knocked over the crossbar and out of harm’s way.
The Porter Cowboys are the only team standing in Pace’s way to the UIL state soccer tournament, and Zamora says the Vikings are already zeroed in on their next opponents.
“I’m happy now,” Zamora said. “Both teams are great teams, and now we’re going to enjoy our dinner and focus on their next game. We’re going to celebrate for a couple of hours and that’s it. We’re going to focus on Porter.”
Joshua McKinney covers high school sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter, he’s @joshuabvherald.