By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
CORPUS CHRISTI — The Valley View Tigers advanced to the Region IV-5A soccer final in decisive fashion Friday with a 6-0 triumph over the Marble Falls Mustangs at Cabaniss Field.
The semifinal win at the Region IV-5A Tournament improved the District 31-5A champion Tigers to 30-0 on the season. It sends them to today’s 2 p.m. regional final against Brownsville Veterans Memorial, a winner against Austin High later Friday in the other semifinal.
The regional final winner earns a trip to next week’s UIL state tournament in Georgetown.
“It’s another win for us and it feels very good,” said Valley View’s Mario De Los Santos, a junior forward who scored three of his team’s six goals against Marble Falls. “Thanks to God we got this win. It was a little difficult, but we were able to come out of the game victorious.
“I’m very happy to help my team win by scoring those three goals,” De Los Santos added. “My teammates played well and helped me do it. We’re prepared for our next game and what may come after that.”
The three goals Friday boosted De Los Santos’ total on the season to 66.
“We’re very happy because the harvest (of goals) continues for Mario,” Valley View coach Damian Magallan said. “We touched the ball and passed it around. Playing that way allowed us to win 6-0.
“We’re advancing game by game,” Magallan added. “We’re prepared to battle hard and do what it takes in our next game. The players are motivated to win and go to state.”
The Tigers built a 4-0 edge by halftime thanks to four long-distance goals from outside the penalty area, including one by De Los Santos that came from 40-plus yards out.
Christopher Flores opened the scoring for Valley View by drilling a direct kick into the net on a strong, low-roller from 25 yards out during the 25th minute.
It became 2-0 during the 29th minute when De Los Santos tallied from 20-plus yards away. Carlos Medina followed with another Valley View score from 20-plus yards out in the 30th minute for a 3-0 lead and De Los Santos blasted in a “golazo” from more than 40 yards away on the left side during the 36th minute to account for the Tigers’ 4-0 advantage at intermission.
The Tigers added a pair of goals in the second half. It became 5-0 when Kevin de la Garza sent a ball off the right post and into the net during the 64th minute. De Los Santos tallied his third goal of the match in the 73rd minute when he dribbled in and caught the goalkeeper out of position before scoring into an open net from the right side to make it 6-0 and send the Tigers to the regional final.
Valley View had an 8-0 edge in shots on goal in the first half and finished the game with an 11-3 advantage.
District 26-5A runner-up Marble Falls ended the season with a 17-10-1 record.