ROY HESS | Staff Writer
The St. Joseph Academy soccer team is eager to advance deep into the TAPPS playoffs, just like the school’s teams did in 2015 and 2016.
Those were the years the Bloodhounds made it to the TAPPS Division I state semifinals during back-to-back seasons.
SJA is on course for another deep postseason run in 2019 after Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime win at home against Houston Emory Weiner.
It was a second-round playoff win and it took a golden goal by SJA’s David Rodriguez after teammate and goalkeeper Carlos Porras had blocked a penalty kick just two minutes earlier for the Bloodhounds (13-8-1) to earn their trip to the TAPPS Division II quarterfinals.
Rodriguez’s golden goal to end the game came with the score tied at 2 and only 36 seconds left in the first half of OT.
SJA coach Edgar Tovar called it a “cardiac” victory.
“We’re battling to get to the state final,” Tovar said. “We’ve very happy. The boys are playing well. This is what we’re working for. This has become a group that is very united. It feels like a family. The boys are displaying good playing techniques, and we have the support of the school. We have a mental attitude to succeed.”
The next step in the playoffs comes at 1:30 p.m. Saturday as the Bloodhounds go against San Antonio Christian (13-10-2). The state quarterfinal match will be played at Corpus Christi John Paul II.
“This win (Tuesday) gives us a lot of courage to do even better in the next round,” said Porras, a senior. “Almost all of the team is made up of seniors, and getting the win meant a lot to us because it was the last game for us at Canales Field.
“I’ve seen us improve in a lot of ways since the beginning of the season (last fall),” Porras added. “We’ve improved by believing in each other most of all. Hopefully, we can do better in the next game. I’m just grateful to play on this team.”
Rodriguez, a forward, is also a senior who has a strong belief in his team’s potential as it plays together.
“Our win (Tuesday) gives us life in the playoffs against more good teams to come,” he said. “It’s all a group effort. If we don’t work as a team, we can’t do what we need to do (and win).”
LOBOS ON FIRE
A local observation recently said something to the effect that no one is talking about the Lopez Lobos in the District 32-5A soccer race this season, which means they’ll probably be the ones going to state.
Lopez leads the Valley with five trips to the UIL state tournament with a Class 4A championship in 2004 and a Class 5A runner-up finish in 2009.
The Lobos showed they shouldn’t be overlooked this season, either, as they defeated Brownsville Veterans Memorial 3-0 on Tuesday in a bit of a surprise since the Chargers seemed to be getting past all obstacles.
But Lopez was the better team on Tuesday.
“What stood out about that game (against Brownsville Veterans) was the intensity our players gave throughout the entire night,” Lobos coach Amadeo Escandon said. “They had the desire to win and they pressed every ball on both the offensive and defensive sides of the field.
“Every time we defeat an undefeated and ranked team (such as the Chargers), it’s a great victory for our program,” Escandon added.
Scoring goals in the match for the Lobos were Raudel Ramirez (two) and Alan Reyes (one).
32-5A UPDATE
Here are the 32-5A boys standings after Tuesday’s games: Brownsville Veterans (5-1, 15 points), Valley View (5-1, 15 points), Pace (4-2, 12 points), Lopez (4-2, 11 points), Porter (3-3, 10 points), Donna High (2-4, six points), Edcouch-Elsa (1-5, three points) and Mercedes (0-6, no points).
Here are the current 32-5A girls standings: Pace (5-1, 15 points), E-E (5-1, 15 points), Porter (5-1, 13 points), Lopez (3-3, 10 points), Brownsville Veterans (3-3, 10 points), Donna High (2-4, six points), Mercedes (1-5, three points) and Valley View (0-6, no points).
32-6A UPDATE
Here are the current District 32-6A boys standings: Harlingen South (3-1, nine points), Rivera 2-2, six points), Harlingen High (2-2, six points), Los Fresnos (2-2, five points), San Benito (2-2, five points) and Hanna (1-3, five points).
Here are the current 32-6A girls standings: Los Fresnos (4-0, 11 points), Hanna (3-1, nine points), Harlingen South (2-2, seven points), Harlingen High (2-2, six points), Rivera (1-3, three points) and San Benito (0-4, no points).