By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Brownsville boasts three boys soccer teams in UIL regional tournament competition this weekend.
Having that many teams still going at such a high level of the state playoffs is believed to be a first in any sport for the city’s six public high schools.
All three squads — Lopez, Porter and Pace — play Friday along with the Los Fresnos girls, who are still alive in the postseason as well.
The Lobos and Lady Falcons play at the Region IV-6A Tournament at Brownsville Sports Park, while the Cowboys and Vikings participate in the Region IV-5A Tournament at Corpus Christi’s Cabaniss Field.
It will take a pair of victories this weekend to qualify for next week’s UIL state tournament in Georgetown, and of course, none of the Metro area teams want the season to end just yet.
With road victories Tuesday, District 32-5A champion Porter (24-0-1) and 32-5A runner-up Pace (18-7-3) qualified for the Region IV-5A Tournament. Porter plays District 27-5A champion Alamo Heights at 4:30 p.m. Friday and Pace goes against District 25-5A champion Austin Vandegrift at 6:30 p.m.
The Cowboys remember all too well what happened last year at the Region IV-5A Tournament at Cabaniss when they lost 1-0 in the regional semifinals to eventual 5A state finalist Georgetown East View.
The Porter players and coaches believe they didn’t play their best soccer that day. They see themselves as ready to return to Cabaniss and have a better showing. The Cowboys just played there last week and pulled out a 4-3 area-round victory in penalty kicks against Calallen.
“We are very excited to return to the regional tournament because that was one of our goals for this season,” Cowboys coach Jose Espitia said. “We had a very complete team last year, but our guys had never played at Cabaniss and it hurt us. This year we know what to expect and we hope we make that experience count.”
Under second-year coach Mario A. Zamora, Pace has returned to the Region IV-5A Tournament for the first time since advancing to the regional finals in 2006 and 2007 under then-coach Chico Jimenez.
“This is my first time to take a team to the regional tournament, and I’m ready for it,” Zamora said. “The team is ready for it, too.”
Also advancing to the Region IV-5A Tournament from the Rio Grande Valley are the girls teams from Sharyland High and Sharyland Pioneer, who are each returning to Cabaniss for the second straight year.
At Brownsville Sports Park, the District 32-6A champion Lobos (19-2-1) take on District 25-6A runner-up Schertz Clemens at 2 p.m. Friday. The other boys regional semifinal matches District 29-6A champion Laredo United South against District 26-6A champion San Antonio Reagan at 4 p.m. The regional final is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at BSP.
Lopez last played at the regional tournament in 2014 when it was held at Blossom Athletic Center in San Antonio.
“It’s a feeling that never grows old on one (playing at the regional tournament),” Lobos coach Amadeo Escandon said. “We have been there many times, and it’s always a rejuvenating feeling.”
The 32-6A second-place Lady Falcons (24-6-1) go against District 27-6A runner-up San Antonio O’Connor at noon Friday at BSP. The other girls regional semifinal has 26-6A third-place San Antonio MacArthur playing 29-6A third-place Del Rio at 10 a.m. The winners battle for a berth at state at 11 a.m. Saturday at BSP.
The Los Fresnos girls earned their fifth trip in seven years to the regional tournament with Tuesday’s 1-0 regional quarterfinal victory at home against Harlingen South.
One year ago in the girls regional final at BSP, the Lady Falcons led 1-0 with 30 minutes to go before Reagan rallied to win 2-1. It was only the third time a Valley girls team made it to the regional final. No Valley girls soccer team has advanced to state in UIL competition.
Also this weekend, the Region IV-4A Tournament involving the boys teams of Progreso and Hidalgo is being played at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess