By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Experience, leadership, strong soccer skills.
Those are qualities that best describe midfielders Andres Rico and Jose Kauachi, captains of the St. Joseph Academy soccer squad.
The Bloodhounds (17-5-1) know they can count on their captains to lead the way when they play Fort Worth Nolan (11-7-1) in the TAPPS quarterfinals at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bob Benson 1966 Stadium in San Antonio.
The winner advances to face Dallas Bishop Dunne or Addison Trinity Christian in the TAPPS semifinals next week at a neutral site.
SJA coach Tino Villarreal expects a close, defensive match against Nolan.
“They’re tall and physical with a very strong (defensive) line in the back,” he said. “They’re hard to score against. They kind of sit back and wait for the counter attack, is what I’ve heard.
“We have to be really sharp, especially against their set pieces,” he added. “We have to be patient and careful not to make any mistakes.”
Now more than ever, the Bloodhounds’ coach appreciates the way Rico, a senior, and Kauachi, a junior, are fulfilling their duties as captains.
“It’s their ability to lead by example,” Villarreal said. “On the field, they’re probably two of the more technically sound players we have, and they’re consistently there in front when we run and condition, always pushing the team and always motivating their teammates to do better. Our conditioning is tough because I want us to be in shape.
“They’re always showing their leadership by example, and that’s real important for me (as the coach),” Villarreal added. “As our captains, they are two of the players we have who do that. We have others as well.”
The Bloodhounds have reached the TAPPS quarterfinals for the second straight year as winners of their district, which includes teams from San Antonio. Last season, the Bloodhounds went 16-4-2 and advanced to the semifinals.
SJA opened the playoffs with Tuesday’s 4-0 win against Plano Prestonwood at Canales Field.
“I think it was the best game we’ve played so far this season,” said Rico, a four-year starter. “We elevated our game and played way better than what we have been playing. If we keep on playing like this, we can make it far (in the playoffs) just like last year, and maybe even go higher, hopefully to the final.
“Every season is different, and I think right now we’re doing very well,” added Rico, the younger brother of Beto Rico, who was a soccer standout for the Bloodhounds before graduating in 2013 and going on to play for the University of Texas at Brownsville. “We’re communicating (on the field) a lot, and I think that’s what is keeping us alive still. Let’s hope we can move on from the next round.”
Rico, 5-foot-9 and 168 pounds, is trying his best to be an effective team captain.
“I hope I’m doing a good job as a leader by giving us advice and helping us grow,” he said. “I (always) want us to be a better team. Jose and I talk to the team before the game about how it felt to win last year.
“St. Joseph soccer has always been a big part of my life, and being part of the team is a gift from God that He gave me,” Rico added. “Since this is my last year, I hope we can make it as far as we can.”
Kauachi, a 6-1, 170-pound three-year starter, sees the Bloodhounds as a team on the rise.
“I feel that a win like this one (Tuesday) really picks up the momentum for us,” he said. “Each game ahead of us is going to be harder and a greater challenge than the game before. I see every win giving us more momentum and helping us play better.
“The team this year has more pressure because of how well we did last year,” he added. “We want to live up to the (high) expectations. At the same time, I feel the team right now is where we want it to be because we’ve finally reached the point that we’re playing the real St. Joe soccer. We’re getting a good effort from all the team. It’s 100 percent from everybody every day.”
Along with Rico, Kauachi takes his role as a team captain very seriously as well.
“I focus mainly on keeping the team together and on everyone always working with each other,” he said. “No one should think of himself as the best individual on the field, because we’re all the same and we’re all playing for each other.
“I would just say thank you to everyone who has supported us since the beginning of the season,” he added. “We’re going to give it all we have to keep going.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.