By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

GEORGETOWN — The end of the soccer season came all too soon for the Lopez Lobos in Friday’s Class 6A semifinals at the UIL state tournament.

The Lobos lost 2-1 to Austin Lake Travis and came up short of their objective to reach the 6A state championship match at Georgetown ISD’s Birkelbach Field.

Friday’s win advanced Lake Travis (25-1) to the 6A state title match at 6:30 p.m. Saturday to face the Coppell Cowboys (23-0-2). Coppell defeated Katy Cinco Ranch 1-0 on a first-half penalty kick by Nick Taylor during the sixth minute in the other 6A semifinal earlier in the day.

Lake Travis came out with an aggressive attack against the Lobos from the outset and it resulted in Lopez (21-3-1) falling behind early.

“I think we came out a little bit nervous in the first half,” said Lopez coach Amadeo Escandon, who went into the stands after it was over to personally thank the Lobos fans for attending the game. “Lake Travis came out and pressured us right away. In the first half we wasted a lot of balls, a lot of possessions.

“We made adjustments at halftime and came out on fire the second half,” he added. “Unfortunately, we ran out of time.”

The Cavaliers’ Luke Thompson, a junior midfielder, dribbled in close and sent the ball into the left corner of the net to give his team a 1-0 advantage during only the third minute.

It became 2-0 for the Cavaliers during the 29th minute when Jack Stoudemire’s long free kick from midfield carried into the goal area and teammate Bijan Ahmadian, a senior midfielder, headed it in.

Lake Travis led 2-0 at halftime, and that was all the scoring it needed.

Ulysses Ortegon’s header into the net with 10 1/2 minutes left gave the Lobos some hope as they cut the lead to 2-1. The senior defender’s goal came thanks to an assist by Benito Cazares, also a senior defender.

“Lake Travis was pressuring us a lot in the beginning and we weren’t expecting that,” Ortegon said. “They caught us off guard (and scored), and that’s what ended up costing us the game.”

Throughout much of the match, the Cavaliers enjoyed success advancing the ball down the flanks and repeatedly frustrated the Lobos by using their speed to cut off Lopez’s passing lanes.

The District 32-6A champion Lobos made it to the state tournament this season thanks to five victories in the 6A playoffs. Those wins came against Edinburg Economedes (6-1), La Joya High (4-1), La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (2-1), Schertz Clemens (3-2) and San Antonio Reagan (1-0).

Friday marked the fourth appearance at state for Lopez. This season marks the first time for Lake Travis to make it to state.

Previously, the Lobos advanced to Georgetown in 2004 and captured the Class 4A state crown. Lopez returned in 2009 and finished as the Class 5A state runner-up. The Lobos’ third trip to state in 2014 resulted in a loss in the 5A semifinals.

Lopez is one of the few, if not only, teams to compete at state in all three classes.

our trips to state ties the Lobos with Southmost neighbor Porter for the most by a Rio Grande Valley team in soccer.

Lopez and Porter will be members of District 32-5A again next school year.

Roy Hess, Staff Reporter

GEORGETOWN — To be playing on the last day of the UIL soccer season in a state final is exactly what the Porter Cowboys wanted.

And now, having reached that goal, winning another state championship would make things even better.

The Cowboys (27-0-1) face off against the Frisco Wakeland Wolverines (25-0-1) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Class 5A final at Georgetown ISD’s Birkelbach Field.

It’s a very satisfying time for the Cowboys, who have won six games in the 5A playoffs to get to this point.

“I’m proud of my teammates, that’s the first thing,” said Enrique Soto, a senior midfielder who put in Porter’s final tally during a second-half, four-goal scoring outburst that led to a 4-1 state semifinal victory Thursday against El Paso Eastlake.

“Winning like that just gives us a lot of motivation because everybody on the team has been dreaming about this since we were freshmen,” Soto added. “We know the team we face in the final will be really hard to beat, but if we believe and have faith, anything is possible.”

The Cowboys were led in the state semifinal by Alexis Anzures, also a senior midfielder, who scored Porter’s first and third goals against Eastlake. His tally from the left side about 15 yards out with eight minutes gone in the second half made it 1-0 and got things going.

“It’s a dream come true because I’m helping my team win at state,” Anzures said. “It’s just incredible. All our hard work is paying off.

“Now we’re going to focus on our last game, the final chapter (to our season),” he added.

Porter is making its fourth appearance at the UIL state tournament. The Cowboys captured the 5A championship in 2006 and also went to state in 1984 and 2011, losing in the semifinals both times.

Lakeland has reached the state tournament for the third time. The Wolverines previously advanced in 2010 and won the Class 4A title before losing in the 4A semifinals in 2014.

Lakeland surged to a 3-0 first-half advantage en route to defeating Pflugerville Connally 4-0 in Thursday’s other 5A semifinal.

“We saw Wakeland play and they have a great team,” Porter coach Jose Espitia said. “They’re very organized and physical. Once again, we’re going to have to implement our style of play by passing the ball and maintaining possession so we can try to take advantage of them.

“We need one more game to reach our goal,” Espitia added. “We definitely thought last year we had a team that could make it over here to state (but we lost in the regional tournament). After that happened last year, we just promised each other that we were going to come back strong this season and we have.”

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

GEORGETOWN — The Porter Cowboys have one more game left in their soccer season, and it is Saturday’s Class 5A championship at the UIL state tournament.

It’s just what the Cowboys have wanted all season long as they’ve envisioned this type of scenario becoming reality, and now it has finally come to pass.

Thanks to a pair of second-half goals by Alexis Anzures plus solo tallies by Marco Don Juan and Enrique Soto, the Cowboys broke out of a scoreless first half and prevailed 4-1 against El Paso Eastlake on Thursday in the 5A state semifinals at Georgetown ISD’s Birkelbach Field.

“I’m very happy with this win,” Cowboys coach Jose Espitia said. “We knew El Paso was going to be a very tough team, and if you saw the first half, it was very evenly matched. We noticed that they had a deadly counter attack, so we had to make some adjustments.

“We told the players to be careful, but at the same time we didn’t want to stop playing our style (of attacking) and maintaining possession of the ball,” Espitia added. “Yes, we kept attacking, but we were also mindful of their counter attack, and things worked out for us.”

Porter (27-0-1) advances to Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. 5A state final against Frisco Wakeland (25-0-1). The Wolverines looked impressive in their 5A state semifinal earlier Thursday by defeating Pflugerville Connally 4-0. Wakeland scored on a header off a corner kick during the first minute and led 3-0 at intermission en route to a dominating win.

The Cowboys had their dominating moments as well Thursday, particularly during the second half.

Porter went ahead 1-0 during the 48th minute when the ball was bouncing around in the goalmouth before being deflected out. The ball came to Anzures on the left side about 15 yards out, and he redirected it back toward the goal and into the net for Porter’s initial score.

It was just the beginning of a memorable second half for the Cowboys.

During the 55th minute, Don Juan found the net as well from much closer range to make it 2-0.

Still, Porter wasn’t done as Anzures added his second tally into an open net on a narrow angle from the right side during the 73rd minute. Soto completed the Cowboys’ scoring by making it 4-0 in the 75th minute.

Due to a tripping call on Porter with three minutes left, the Falcons (22-3-1) were awarded a penalty kick and Jonathan Hernandez converted it into the left corner of the goal to account for the final score.

Porter made its fourth appearance at the state tournament Friday, while it was the first time at Georgetown for Eastlake.

Porter became the first Rio Grande Valley team to qualify for state in soccer in 1984. That season, the state tournament was played at Austin Westlake and the Cowboys lost in the state semifinals.

The Cowboys returned to the state tournament in 2006, when the event was played in Round Rock, and they captured the 5A championship with a 2-1 overtime victory against Coppell.

Porter reached state again in 2011 and lost in the semifinals at Georgetown.

The Cowboys are tied with Lopez for the most appearances at state by a Valley team, each with four. The Lobos (21-2-1) make their fourth appearance when they play Austin Lake Travis (24-1) on Friday in a Class 6A state semifinal.

To reach Georgetown this season, the District 32-5A champion Cowboys won five playoff games. The victories came against Edinburg Vela (2-0), Calallen (4-3 in penalty kicks), Sharyland High (2-0), Alamo Heights (4-1) and crosstown rival Pace (2-1 in overtime).

Next school year, Porter and Lopez will both be in 32-5A.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

The Lopez Lobos make their fourth appearance at the UIL state soccer tournament Friday in Georgetown hoping it will lead to a second state championship for their school.

German Vera, a senior defensive midfielder and team captain, said the Lobos are focused on their ultimate goal.

“Talent-wise, everybody (at state) has talent,” he said. “But hard work beats talent, so that’s why I think we should just go up there and give it our all.

“It’s going to be really hard and really competitive, but I trust my teammates and I know we’re going to give it everything we’ve got because we’ve been wanting for this forever,” Vera added. “We said in 2014 (when we lost at state and fell short of the title) that we would be back, and here we are.”

The Lobos advanced to Georgetown the first time in 2004 and captured the Class 4A championship, which was the first of the Rio Grande Valley’s five UIL state titles in soccer. The others were by Porter in 2006, Hidalgo in 2009, Sharyland High in 2012 and Rivera in 2015.

Lopez made it back to state in 2009 and finished as the Class 5A runner-up. The Lobos returned in 2014 and were eliminated in the 5A state semifinals.

Now the Lobos are playing in the Class 6A division at the four-day state tournament that runs through Saturday at Georgetown ISD’s Birkelbach Field.

Lopez (21-2-1) goes against Austin Lake Travis (24-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the 6A state semifinals. A victory would send the Lobos to the 6A state title match at 6:30 p.m. Saturday against Coppell (22-0-3) or Katy Cinco Ranch (18-2-5).

The District 32-6A champion Lobos prevailed in two of their most challenging games of the season last weekend at the Region IV-6A Tournament at Brownsville Sports Park. They fell behind 2-1 against Schertz Clemens before rallying to win 3-2 in the regional semifinals. Against San Antonio Reagan in the Region IV-6A final, Lopez emerged victorious 1-0 from a closely contested match thanks to a goal with just 3 1/2 minutes left in regulation.

Lopez coach Amadeo Escandon expects Lake Travis to be much like the Lobos’ last two opponents.

“Lake Travis is from the same area (of Central Texas) as Reagan and Schertz Clemens, so we do kind of anticipate a matchup like the ones we had against the other two,” Escandon said. “We expect the players from Lake Travis to be tall and physical. Hopefully we can go out there and do our style of play and make the opponent adjust to us.

“Our guys have responded (to adversity in the playoffs) the way we’ve wanted them to, which is they’ve kept their composure and they’ve kept on fighting,” he added. “They give it everything they have. It’s a team that refuses to lose.”

Allan Ramos is a senior midfielder on the wing who was a member of the squad the last time Lopez played at state, He is grateful the Lobos are getting another chance at a state title.

“(Coming home with a state championship) would be the best thing in my life,” Ramos said. “It would be something incredible. I think winning a championship would be the best thing a soccer player could ever experience. I really hope we can do it.”

Lopez is now one of the few, if not only, teams in Texas to play in all three divisions of the state soccer tournament.

As the Lobos prepared to travel to Georgetown Thursday and make their fourth appearance at state, Escandon said that more than anything he feels fortunate to have the soccer players and assistant coaches he’s had in his program, particularly this year.

“This is a special team to me because I’ve known these seniors and some of the other players since they were little kids,” Escandon said. “Some of them played on the same (youth league) teams with my kids, and now here we are going to state.

“I’m just thankful and very appreciative of what we have here at Lopez,” he added. “I think I’m one of the most blessed coaches in the state. God has been very good to me, and I’d just like to vocalize that so it can be known.”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

BY ROY HESS, Staff Writer

Former Porter and Lopez soccer players who previously went to the UIL state tournament are eager to see the Cowboys and Lobos do well this week in Georgetown.

Brownsville is sending two teams to state for the first time.

Porter (26-0-1) plays El Paso Eastlake (22-2-1) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Class 5A semifinals and Lopez (21-2-1) goes against Austin Lake Travis (24-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Class 6A semifinals.

The state tournament began Wednesday with Class 4A competition and runs through Saturday at Georgetown ISD’s Birkelbach Field.

It’s an exciting time for the ones who earlier in their lives proudly wore jerseys representing the two Southmost schools at the highest level of high school competition. Lopez and Porter are each returning to state a fourth time.

Each school boasts quite a successful soccer history. Lopez won the 4A state title in 2004 and also advanced to state in 2009 and 2014. Porter advanced in 1984 before winning the 5A state championship in 2006. The Cowboys also went to state in 2011.

Brothers Ivan and Nestor Morales were key players in the midfield on two of those Lopez state teams.

Ivan’s 2004 squad became the Rio Grande Valley’s first UIL soccer champion. Nestor’s 2009 team finished as the 5A state runner-up. An older brother, Ruben Morales, played at Lopez before them, so the family remains keenly interested in the Lobos’ fortunes in soccer.

The Morales brothers are hoping both teams do well because Cowboys coach Jose Espitia, now in his ninth season at Porter, was previously an assistant at Lopez under Amadeo Escandon, coach of the Lobos for 19 years.

“It feels amazing, even nostalgic, to see both Brownsville teams going to state,” Ivan said. “It just shows you that the best soccer is played in the Valley.

“I really believe both of them can go all the way because of the experienced coaches they have,” he added. “I was blessed to have been coached by both of them, and I know that they are really good at bringing out the best of their players.”

Nestor said he’s also proud of both coaches and their teams.

“I can’t lie to you, I’m very excited for both schools, and I’m even more excited for Lopez for obvious reasons,” Nestor said. “This proves that the program Coach Escandon has guided over the years can compete at any level. Lopez makes history as the first high school to make it to state in all three classes (4A, 5A and 6A). It’s a program that continues to build up the tradition and legacy of Lopez soccer.

“Personally, I’ve known both Coach Espitia and Coach Escandon since I was an 8-year-old ball boy for Lopez,” Nestor added. “They are competitive and always hungry to win, but above all, they are very humble. That, plus having talented players, makes the perfect ingredients to see two state titles come back to Brownsville with a (victory) parade down Southmost Road.”

Jose Luis Zarate was the coach of Porter’s 5A state championship team in 2006. Diego Rodriguez was a standout midfielder and team captain for the Cowboys that season.

“I feel both teams are very deserving of this opportunity (at state), and I feel real positive about their chances,” said Zarate, now the golf coach at Brownsville Veterans Memorial. “Both teams are well-coached.”

Ten years after graduating from Porter, Rodriguez remains active in his chosen sport, most recently competing in the Major Arena Soccer League playoffs for the Brownsville Barracudas.

“For me to see two Brownsville teams going to state makes me very proud,” Rodriguez said. “I’m especially proud for Porter because that was my high school. It’s a great feeling to see them so close to winning another state title.

“I feel my class (of 2006) left a legacy, and it’s amazing to see it continue,” he added. “It definitely speaks highly of the level of soccer here in Brownsville, and it puts us on the map as an area where soccer is everything.”

Some former Brownsville soccer players plan to attend the games at state. One of them is Enrique “Chicle” Rivera, a standout forward who scored 20-plus goals for the Lobos in 2004.

“It’s always great to see teams from Brownsville playing at state,” said Rivera, who now lives in Houston. “I’m very happy for both teams and very proud of both coaches. I know them personally and both have an amazing work ethic. Both teams will be state champions this year. I’m giving my prognostics ahead of time.”

Kevin Maldonado, a standout midfielder on the 2014 Lopez team, knows some of the players who are returning to state this season for the Lobos. He appreciates all that Lopez soccer has done, and particularly the influence Escandon and Lobos assistant Abraham Torres have had on his life.

“It’s not that easy (to get to state), but the coaches are the ones who gave us that faith,” said Maldonado, who now plays soccer in college. “They make you believe in yourself, which is a great thing because they follow up with how to succeed in life, not just in sports, and they help you become a better person.

“I thank them for what they are doing for Valley soccer,” Maldonado added. “I also want to congratulate Coach Espitia. We have a very good friendship and I’ve known him since he was at Lopez (as an assistant coach). I’m happy for him reaching his goal, too.”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

One year ago, the Porter Cowboys thought they had the team to make it to the UIL state soccer tournament.

But a 1-0 loss to Georgetown East View in the regional tournament semifinals derailed those plans.

It was an experience that has motivated the Cowboys throughout the 2016 season as they’ve intently gone about making sure such a disappointing defeat didn’t happen again.

It hasn’t, and thanks to last Saturday’s 2-1 win in overtime against Pace in the Region IV-5A final, the Cowboys are returning to state a fourth time and hoping to add another state title to the one they captured in 2006 in Class 5A.

Porter also advanced to state in 1984 and 2011, falling short in the state semifinals both times.

“All of us have had this dream since we were freshmen and we’ve been working hard to make it to state,” said Alexis Anzures, a senior center midfielder and four-year starter for the District 32-5A champion Cowboys. “Now that we’re going, it feels really good. We want to make it happen over there (and bring home the championship trophy).”

The four-day state tournament began Wednesday with Class 4A boys and girls semifinals at Georgetown ISD’s Birkelbach Field.

After receiving a spirited sendoff from the Porter students and staff, the Cowboys, wearing caps that read “State,” left for Georgetown by charter bus on Wednesday.

Porter (26-0-1) plays at 7:30 p.m. Thursday against El Paso Eastlake (22-2-1) in the 5A state semifinals. The Porter-Eastlake winner goes against Frisco Wakeland (24-0-1) or Pflugerville Connally (19-5-2) in the 5A state final at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

“It’s a blessing having my teammates next to me and to be going to state,” said Uriel Sepulveda, a senior defensive midfielder and team captain. “It’s not just because of one player. We’re a team. Everyone is touching the ball (and passing it around). It’s the confidence we have in everyone on the team.

“We have faith and we’re going for everything,” he added.

Added Omar Estrada, a junior midfielder, “First of all, thank God we made it to state. We remember what happened last year when our season was cut short. We’re all united, and that’s the most important thing.”

Eastlake, the District 2-5A champion, is making its first appearance at state.

“We know that our (semifinal) opponent is a border-town team, so we expect that they’re going to be like us (in their style of play),” said Enrique Soto, a senior midfielder and team captain. “It’s a pretty good team that we’re going to face. They’re going to touch the ball a lot (like we do).”

The Cowboys won five games in the playoffs to get to this point. They triumphed against Edinburg Vela (2-0), Calallen (4-3 in penalty kicks), Sharyland High (2-0), Alamo Heights (4-1) and Pace (2-1 in OT).

“It’s taken us five years to get back to state since we last went in 2011,” Porter coach Jose Espitia said. “We know how difficult it is to do. This season we’ve done everything possible that we could do to give us the best chance to come back home with that state trophy. From our coaches, our athletes, our managers and everyone else, we’ve tried to make sure that we’ve done everything right, even down to the little details.

“We’re hoping to take advantage of the situation this time,” he added.

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

A group of senior players for the Lopez Lobos remember quite well what it was like to go to the UIL state soccer tournament two years ago.

Now that the Lobos are returning to Georgetown, they feel blessed to have another chance at a state title.

The state tournament starts Wednesday and runs through Saturday at Georgetown ISD’s Birkelbach Field. The Lobos don’t play until Friday.

In 2014, Lopez lost 3-2 to eventual Class 5A champion Fort Bend Clements in the state semifinals.

Among those playing for Lopez that season were then-sophomores Allan Ramos, Benito Cazares, Arturo Salazar, Leo Casanova, Ulysses Ortegon and German Vera.

“It feels really good to be going back to state,” said Ortegon, a defender. “We lost two years ago and we’re just trying to get some redemption and finish it off (with a state title) our senior year. The state tournament has brought us all together and we’re looking for a better result this time.”

Lopez (21-2-1) goes against Austin Lake Travis (24-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Class 6A state semifinals. The winner advances to Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. 6A title match against Coppell (22-0-3) or Katy Cinco Ranch (18-2-5).

“The ones on the team who have been to state already know what to expect, more or less,” Lobos coach Amadeo Escandon said. “And the ones who maybe weren’t there as players still have an idea about what the atmosphere will be like and they know what to expect. That’s a big plus, and I think it’s going to help us on this trip.”

The Lobos started off the playoffs with fairly comfortable wins against Edinburg Economedes (6-1) and La Joya High (4-1) before prevailing in some nail-biters against La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (2-1), Schertz Clemens (3-2) and San Antonio Reagan (1-0).

“It’s an amazing feeling (to return to state) and it’s great because in 2014, unfortunately, we couldn’t get the state championship,” said Ramos, a midfielder on the wing. “This year I see our team as strong, and with faith, God will help us.

“I’m just telling the guys to not be nervous or intimidated and to just play our game,” Ramos added. “If we play with heart, we can win the game. I think we have a good chance (to do well). Our team is strong because we’ve had a lot of hard work and dedication throughout the season, so that’s why I think we can win state.”

Returning to Georgetown helps fulfill a pledge made by the Lopez underclassmen two years ago.

“I remember very clearly that state semifinal loss in 2014,” said Abraham Torres, the Lobos’ assistant coach. “The guys cried a little, but right away they said, ‘Pick your heads up. We’ll be back.’ These seniors now were sophomores then, and yes, they’re going back to state.

“It’s a great feeling,” he added. “They’ve put in the work. The guys (who went to state before) let the others know that they’ve got to believe in themselves.”

Casanova won’t be in uniform at state because he suffered a season-ending injury against Juarez-Lincoln. Even though he won’t be playing, he’s still grateful the Lobos are getting another chance at state.

“Going back is very important because I remember being there as a sophomore when we lost (to Clements),” Casanova said. “We told the (2014) seniors that we were going to make it back for them, and here we are. It’s something big for us. We really want it. We’re working really hard and we’re putting God first.”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

The Lopez Lobos and Porter Cowboys are going to this week’s UIL state soccer tournament in Georgetown guided by coaches who have taken their teams there before.

It’s the first time for two Brownsville teams to go to state during the same season as Lopez is advancing in Class 6A and Porter is going in Class 5A.

Actually, this is the fourth time for 19th-year Lopez coach Amadeo Escandon to guide the Lobos to state, while Porter coach Jose Espitia, now in his ninth season, previously took the Cowboys to state in 2011. Two other coaches directed the Cowboys to state in 1984 and 2006. Lopez previously advanced to state with Escandon as coach in 2004, 2009 and 2014.

There’s a bond of friendship between the coaching staffs of the two schools, particularly between the head coaches, as Espitia was an assistant under Escandon in 2004 when the Lobos brought home the Class 4A state title.

“I tell everybody that Coach Espitia is like my little brother, the little brother I never had,” said Escandon, a 1987 Hanna graduate who played soccer for Coach Juan de Dios Garcia. “I love Coach Espitia. To me, he’s top class because I know the person behind the coach. I think that’s even more important than knowing him as a coach. He’s an excellent person.”

Espitia, a 1997 Lopez graduate, responded by saying, “As soon as our (regional final) game (in Corpus Christi) was over last Saturday (and we had beaten Pace 2-1 in overtime), Coach (Tom) Campos, our athletic coordinator, came over to congratulate us and he told me that Lopez had won, too (1-0 against San Antonio Reagan to qualify for state).

“To be honest, I was very happy for Coach Escandon because he’s a close friend of mine,” Espitia added. “I have that special connection with Lopez because I played soccer there under Chico Jimenez and I was a state champion with them (as an assistant coach). To go to state together and have the possibility of both of us coming back home with a state championship is unimaginable. It’s something very special. We’ll be there for their game on Friday, and I hope they can make it to our game (on Thursday).”

The state tournament starts Wednesday and runs through Saturday at Georgetown ISD’s Birkelbach Field.

Porter (26-0-1) plays its 5A state semifinal against El Paso Eastlake (22-2-1) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, while Lopez (21-2-1) goes against Austin Lake Travis (24-1) in the 6A state semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Over the years, Escandon has had several assistant coaches. Abraham Torres has been the Lobos’ assistant since 2008. Also, for three seasons now, Ricardo Alaniz and Josue Ruiz have coached the Lobos at the sub-varsity level.

“Being part of this team as a coach is a blessing to me,” said Torres, a 1997 Porter graduate. “It’s something really special because it goes beyond just the sport, and I think that’s what I like the most. The players see that we (as coaches) want them to progress in life. It’s not just about the game of soccer. We want them to be better beyond the field and those are the lessons we try to pass on to them.”

Regarding his coaching staff, Escandon said, “We’ve clicked ever since we started working together. It’s like we have a small family (of coaches) here. They understand the way we think, and not only that, they go the extra mile for the team. They’re patient and they work with the players. It’s a big plus to have a coaching staff like that.”

At Porter, Espitia’s coaching staff includes Eddie Buentello, Adrian Navarro and Antonio Serrano, who primarily works with the junior varsity.

“It’s kind of a combined total effort of everything on this coaching staff,” Espitia said. “Each one has something to contribute. You put that together with the team we have right now and we hope it’s going to make the difference at state.”

Espitia said Buentello, now in his sixth season, is a strong motivator for the team and works with the goalkeepers, while Navarro, just in his first season with the Cowboys, stresses fitness and nutrition while contributing some successful set plays to the offense. Serrano, a retired physician from Matamoros, also is in his first year at Porter and is helping the team with medical advice and sports psychology.

Navarro, a 1996 Porter graduate, previously helped out with Lopez soccer as a volunteer assistant. He was a midfielder/forward for the Cowboys prior to graduating.

“For me, this is a great opportunity to be here and have a chance to join in this big journey to state and to share this dream with the players,” Navarro said. “The potential of this team has no limits. I’ve seen the players grow and mature physically, mentally and emotionally. I don’t think they’ve reached their cap. We haven’t seen the greatness yet that this team is capable of.”

Added Buentello, “I actually graduated from Hanna (in 1983), but I bleed blue now. I wouldn’t change this for the world. I’m so proud to be working with these players. They are very humble and working hard towards their goal, which is to hopefully bring back a state championship.”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

The mark of a successful soccer team is a strong midfield.

At 26-0-1 on the season, the Porter Cowboys, who won District 32-5A with a 14-0 record, are certainly a winning team that features a midfield composed of standout players.

Porter’s midfield is one of the main reasons the Cowboys are advancing to this week’s UIL state tournament in Georgetown.

“We all work together in the midfield, attacking and defending, and that’s what has brought us along and given us the (winning) results,” said Porter’s Enrique Soto, a senior on the left wing and a team captain along with defensive midfielder Uriel Sepulveda. “We have good passing, good shooting and the assists that lead to goals.”

In Thursday’s Class 5A state semifinals, Region IV champion Porter plays Region I champion El Paso Eastlake (22-2-1) at 7:30 p.m. at Georgetown ISD’s Birkelbach Stadium.

The winner goes against Region II champion Frisco Wakeland (24-0-1) or Region III champion Pflugerville Connally (19-5-2) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the 5A state title match.

Porter’s midfield consists of Alexis Anzures in the center with Soto and Marco Don Juan on the wings. Besides Sepulveda as the defensive midfielder, Omar Estrada and Daniel Briseno figure into the mix and sometimes start on the wing or in the middle depending upon the opponent’s alignment.

“I like being part of this wonderful team (as a midfielder/defender),” said Briseno, a senior whose younger brother, Roberto Briseno, a junior, starts on defense. “It feels amazing because we have a really good chemistry. And with the experience we have, we can pass the ball (well) and move it around. We need to remain concentrated at state, touch the ball, keep our positions and give it everything we’ve got. I think it’s been 10 years since Porter won state, so hopefully this is our year.”

Porter coach Jose Espitia said all the midfielders have started since they were freshmen, so it’s a big plus. They are all seniors except Don Juan, who is a junior.

“Those guys have the experience of playing in a lot of important soccer matches,” the Cowboys coach said. “The main thing with them is they believe they’re going to win and they never give up.

“It’s just their mentality,” Espitia added. “It doesn’t matter who we’re going to play, they’re focused on the game and you can see it in their faces. They lead the group. That helps us a lot.”

Don Juan said he came to Porter to win a state championship, just like his teammates.

“We’ve been working hard and fighting through the playoffs to get where we’re at,” he said. “For me, coming home with a state title would be the best. I came to Porter as a freshman hoping that we would do it.”

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

Local coaches say sending three boys soccer teams from the Rio Grande Valley to the UIL state tournament for the first time is an indication of the sport’s evolving prowess in South Texas, and particularly in Brownsville.

The Lopez Lobos are advancing to state in Class 6A, while the Porter Cowboys are going in Class 5A and the Progreso Red Ants are making the trip in Class 4A.

Two teams from the Valley have qualified for state before during the same season — most recently in 2014 when Lopez and Valley View advanced — but never three.

Two teams from Brownsville have never made it to state in the same season until now.

The UIL expanded its classifications in soccer from two to three divisions when 6A was created prior to the 2014-15 school year.

The state tournament begins Wednesday in Georgetown and runs through Saturday.

“It’s something very special (to send three of our teams to state),” said ninth-year Porter coach Jose Espitia, a former Lopez assistant when the Lobos started a Valley trend by winning a state championship more than a decade ago. “It speaks volumes about Valley soccer. Lopez led the way (by capturing the 4A state title) in 2004. Since then it has become an expectation (for Valley soccer teams to do well at state).”

“The Valley will be well-represented at state this year, especially Brownsville, and Southmost in particular,” said Lopez coach Amadeo Escandon, now in his 19th season guiding the Lobos.

While Porter and Lopez are making their fourth appearances at state this season, it’s the first time for Progreso to advance.

“This is a dream come true,” said Progreso coach Margarito Jimenez, now in his 18th season directing the Red Ants. “Our goal was met Saturday (by beating Giddings 3-2 in the Region IV-4A final at McAllen). We will do our best to do something special at state. (Sending three of our teams to Georgetown) says boys soccer in the Valley is one of the best in the state.”

Besides Lopez, the Valley’s other UIL state champions in boys soccer are Porter in 2006 (5A), Hidalgo in 2009 (4A), Sharyland High in 2012 (5A) and Rivera in 2015 (6A). Also, Lopez, Hanna and Valley View reached the state final in 2009, 2013 and 2014, respectively.

Another first was recorded last season when Rivera won the inaugural 6A boys state title in soccer and accomplished the feat with a 28-0 record. The Raiders’ undefeated mark was another first for Valley soccer.

“I think we are sending a big statement to the rest of the state that regardless of the division — 6A, 5A or 4A — the road to state has to come through the south, or the Valley,” said Salvador Garcia, who just completed his 25th season at Rivera including the last 19 as head coach. “I remember that back in January at the Brownsville ISD Tournament I was talking to Porter athletic coordinator Tom Campos and he asked me what I thought about the Cowboys’ chances of going all the way. I responded by saying that for the first time in Brownsville soccer history we had a chance to pull a double whammy (by winning at state) with Porter in the 5A division and Lopez or Hanna in the 6A division.

“It speaks volumes about what our (Valley) soccer community can do. Hopefully we can sweep the state tournament (in the three boys divisions).”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at[email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess