STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
CORPUS CHRISTI – Brownsville Veterans Memorial again finds itself on the precipice of state qualification after the Chargers staved off a resolute Kerrville Tivy team 2-0 on Friday to advance to the Region IV-5A final at Cabaniss Stadium in Corpus Christi.
Streaking down the sideline and into the corner, Orlando Hernandez made his way along the endline when he spotted a narrow opening between Tivy keeper Stephen Canty and the near post.
Hernandez bent the ball sharply past Canty, stunning the Antlers (22-3-1) by scoring the game’s first goal with eight minutes to go in a contentious second half.
“It was a tight game,” Hernandez said. “We had a lot of opportunities and we didn’t put them in, but on that goal I just saw the shot and I took it. It was a difficult shot, but I had it and I took it.”
One minute later, the Chargers (25-3-1) seized control when Albert Maradiaga assisted Eduardo Martinez to put Brownsville Veterans up 2-0.
When Martinez was inserted into the game midway through the second half, he parked himself in front of the net and immediately had a scoring chance.
“That’s the type of player he is,” Brownsville Veterans coach Alberto Vasquez said. “We don’t expect that many minutes from him, but we expect him to be able to give us that. He is a real good finisher, and he brings a different element of being out there in the box, and he’s able to create those type of opportunities and put them away.”
Tivy maintained a possession advantage during the first half and was anchored by Canty, who made several point-blank saves and played aggressively to keep the ball out of his own end and limit high-danger chances.
No one was more empowered by Sanchez’s tiebreaker than Martinez, who said it took the pressure off of him and his teammates as they were encouraging each other to press for an insurance goal.
“(Canty) is one of the best ’keepers we’ve faced so far,” Martinez said. “It was a relief (to score the second goal) because one goal doesn’t (guarantee) anything, they could score three or five seconds after.”
The Chargers adjusted at halftime, spreading the field and moving the ball quickly, allowing defenders to quickly reverse field after Tivy clearances and initiate attacks.
Vasquez said having speed on the wings is a crucial component of the Chargers’ offensive approach.
“In the first half we played a lot of longball,” Vasquez said. “Because of (Tivy’s) height, that was to their advantage. In the second half, we talked about putting the ball on the ground and supporting each other a lot more. That was a big difference in the second half.”
Brownsville Veterans will face Valley View, the winner of Friday’s first semifinal, in the regional final, which is a rematch of last year’s final. The Tigers defeated the Chargers 3-1 in last year’s postseason to advance to state.
The District 32-5A foes split their regular-season meetings this season.
The regional final kicks off at noon Saturday at Cabaniss Stadium.