Edinburg Bobcats hold off Edcouch-Elsa in E-E finale
BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
ELSA — Two trends faced each other in the championship match of the Edcouch-Elsa girls soccer tournament: Edinburg High’s ability to keep opponents off the score sheet and E-E’s affinity for using penalty kicks to decide their matches.
Neither streak lasted the evening as Edinburg High prevailed 3-2 over host Edcouch-Elsa.
“It’s amazing,” EHS senior captain Debanhi Rodriguez said. “It’s our first final and the first time we won first place. Everyone on our team did great.”
Edinburg High didn’t allow a goal in regulation on its way to the tournament championship.
The only goals to get past keeper Kristen Salinas prior to the final was when the Jackets and Bobcats met in the group round Thursday when EHS won 1-0 in PKs. Recent familiarity with each other made for an intense, and at times, chippy, final.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” Senior Regina Monroy said. “We have tied, lost and won against them. So we’re just happy we won.”
The first half almost concluded without a goal on the board but a free-kick in the last minute gave EHS an opportunity to break through.
Monroy shook loose in the box and got her head on freshman Miriela Munoz’s free kick in the penalty area and with 45 seconds to play the Bobcats had the lead.
“It’s amazing, for me to score in my last year and in a final,” Senior Monroy said. “It just feels great.”
Edinburg’s 1-0 lead at the break was another period without conceding a goal in Elsa.
“Defense is going to win the championships, the offense is going to win the games,” Edinburg coach Cerjio Elizararraz said. “This was a championship game, our defense came through.”
Sophomore goalie Kristen Salinas explained that her low goals against per game is thanks to the team in front of her.
“It definitely has to do with my midfield and my defense, they work really hard together,” Salinas said. They work really well together and they talk really well. Sometimes I don’t have to touch the ball at all. Thank you defense. I wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”
With 15:13 to play, E-E’s Terry Gallegos finally got a regulation goal past Salinas. Jackets sophomore Vanessa Cerda headed a ball on the net which was initially grabbed but Gallegos was able to jar the ball loose and hit it home.
The momentum swing didn’t last long because the Bobcats answered quick.
Two minutes and eight seconds later Rodriguez stood over a free kick from approximately 25 feet. She broke the tie with a kick over the head over E-E’s Anissa Cavazos in goal.
Minutes later, sophomore Leah Sanchez booted home a clever chip over E-E’s netminder.
“Everybody has their own talents,” Rodriguez said of the combo of youth and experience on the roster. “We just try to make the team work together.”
The Jackets didn’t go quietly; Jada de los Santos scored a long-range goal but the ‘Cats defense was able to hold off the late surge from the home team.