By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The Lopez Lobos see unity and faith as important factors that have brought them to this point of the soccer season.
“This team is unique,” said Ruben Sauceda, a senior midfielder/defender for the Lobos. “This team is made of faith and a belief in each other. It’s a team I wouldn’t trade for any other team.”
The District 32-6A champion Lobos (19-2-1) face District 25-6A runner-up Schertz Clemens (21-5) at 2 p.m. Friday in the Region IV-6A Tournament semifinals at Brownsville Sports Park.
The winner advances to play San Antonio Reagan or Laredo United South in the regional final at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
To get to the fourth round of the Class 6A playoffs, the Lobos prevailed against La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 2-1 at La Joya ISD Stadium during Tuesday’s regional quarterfinals. It took a pair of second-half goals to get past the Huskies.
“It was a very tough game, but happily we played with a lot of heart and pulled through for the victory,” said Allan Ramos, a senior midfielder for Lopez. “Our goal is to get back to state. With the hard work we’re putting into practice and by taking it game by game, I feel we can reach our goal.”
The Lobos are trying to return to next week’s UIL state tournament in Georgetown for the second time in three years. They won it all as a Class 4A team in 2004 and finished as the Class 5A state runner-up in 2009. Lopez lost in the 5A state semifinals in 2014.
So far, it’s been another successful journey for Lopez.
“Our team is looking great and we’ve been showing our potential,” said German Vera, a senior defensive midfielder. “I strongly believe we still have even more to show.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be going back to the regional tournament,” he added. “We want to go far like we’ve done before.”
Vera, Ramos and Sauceda are team captains along with Benito Casarez, a senior central defender.
The remainder of the Lobos’ lineup consists of Andrew Flores at goalkeeper and Ulysses Ortegon and Ernesto Pulido as defenders. The midfielders include Alan Reyes and Jose Echavarria with Edson Solis at forward.
Leo Casanova is a starting defender who was injured against Juarez-Lincoln. His replacement in the lineup is expected to be Arturo Salazar.
Helping off the bench are Sebastian Benavides, Eloy Lozoya, Ezequiel Gonzalez and Jose Alviar.
A new arrival at Lopez four years ago, Casarez said the soccer team became his second family when he was in need of friendship.
“These guys are like my brothers,” Casarez said. “I didn’t know anyone (when I came to Lopez) and soccer gave me something good. The guys became my friends.
“I went to state (with this team as a sophomore), and it’s my dream to go back,” he added. “It’s one of the most beautiful experiences you can imagine. By working hard, God willing, we hope to do it again.”
Amadeo Escandon, now in his 19th season, is the Lobos’ head coach. He is assisted by Abraham Torres.
“This is an all-around, well-balanced team that works very hard, so I think it’s a team that is prepared to do well,” Torres said. “Some of the players have had family members, including uncles and maybe some older brothers who have played for past Lopez teams that have done well.
“The players have set the bar pretty high for themselves,” Torres added. “It’s a (winning) tradition, and they want to do well, too.”
Vera said faith provides motivation for the Lobos.
“We look for help from God every day, and I believe that’s the most important thing that is keeping us moving forward,” he said.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess