BROWNSVILLE — Sharyland High’s Juan Pablo Treviño isn’t afraid of the big moment. Last season, the then-sophomore made the game-winning kick to send the Rattlers to the regional tournament.
Treviño provided the heroics once again Friday, this time to send the Rattlers to the regional final.
With the game knotted at 0, the junior midfielder fired a direct kick from 27 yards. The shot floated just over San Antonio Southwest goalkeeper Jahir Roque’s for the go-ahead goal with just 20 minutes remaining.
The score provided the Rattlers with the spark they needed, and they added another goal with nine minutes remaining to run past the Dragons 2-0 during a Region IV-5A semifinal Friday at Brownsville Sports Park.
Sharyland High has taken the lead! Juan Pablo Treviño puts it over the GK from 27 yards out. Rattlers on top 1-0 with 21 minutes remaining. #RGVSoccer #RGVFutbol pic.twitter.com/npqdFDvr20
— Ivan Palacios (@ByIvanPalacios) April 7, 2023
“I practice those shots every week,” Treviño said. “I feel like I have a good long-distance shot. I just went out there and did what I trained for, and I was able to get the goal. We knew coming in what we needed to do. Last year we were here and didn’t get the result. This year I feel like we have a way better team so we were able to get the job done.”
The victory pushes the Rattlers one round deeper than last year, as they move on to the Region IV-5A championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday. They’ll take on the winner of the Brownsville Lopez-Leander Rouse semifinal for a spot in the state tournament next week.
The regional final appearance marks the first for the team since the Rattlers won the state title in 2012.
“The mindset has been the same all season,” Sharyland High senior Jose Sanchez said. “We have a hell of a team, and we don’t want to waste this opportunity. Thankfully, all of the guys have been on the same page since Day 1. All the hard work and dedication has paid off and has gotten us to the regional finals.”
While the Rattlers’ offense roared to life during the second half, it was their defense that came up big throughout the contest.
Led by a stout back line, the Rattlers stifled a San Antonio Southwest offense that came in averaging 4.6 goals per contest, holding it scoreless through the full 80 minutes.
The shutout marked the fourth straight by the Rattlers, who have yet yet to concede a goal this postseason.
“The heart the defense has been putting into the game has been big,” Sanchez said. “They know when to stay back and when to play open. That has been the key to all our games, staying strong in the back. They’re the ones that help us build up the momentum to attack on the top. They’ve just been playing great.”
The defense helped set up the go-ahead goal for the Rattlers, applying pressure to the Southwest offense and forcing the turnover, leading to a run by junior Furkan Coban.
The Rattlers’ midfielder sprinted past the Southwest defense with nine minutes left before crossing a pass into the box to Jose Sanchez. The senior captain did the rest, tapping it in with his right foot to seal the Dragons’ fate.
The Rattlers strike again! Furkan Coban with the pass inside the box to Jose Sanchez for the goal. Sharyland High on top 2-0 with less than 9 minutes left. #RGVSoccer #RGVFutbol pic.twitter.com/wu5qu8cm5M
— Ivan Palacios (@ByIvanPalacios) April 7, 2023
“We told the guys to just stick to the game plan,” Sharyland High head coach Jorge Guerra said. “We were patient and continued to move the ball. We knew opportunities were going to come. I knew we were going to create opportunities. We were able to take advantage of the opportunities we had, and thank God we got the victory.”