By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE — The Brownsville IDEA Riverview Lady Rockets have clinched the District 32-4A championship, earning the title with a 1-0 win against La Feria on Tuesday.
“It is nice, especially after the previous two years,” Lady Rockets coach Juan Acosta said. “We were the ones losing, 5-0 and even 10-0. It was difficult. I had a captain that would come off the field in tears. It was hard.”
Acosta admitted it was heartbreaking seeing his players go through that last season and also acknowledged the struggles of building a program that is still in its infancy.
“It is good to feel that after struggling the last couple of years and giving up over 100 goals in a season, that girls pushed through, they decided to stay and they trusted the system,” Acosta said. “This title is a reflection of the countless hours of sorrows, and now it is finally paying off.”
Riverview can clinch something Acosta did not expect — an undefeated district season — with a win against Brownsville Jubilee today.
Acosta expected his team to compete with the top teams in district but the girls exceeded expectations, especially with how they won district.
“We have worked really hard,” senior midfielder Grecia Hernandez said. “To lose every single game and now we are here, it was really amazing.”
Hernandez is not a captain, but a leader. The senior humbly admitted one of the reasons the team has had success is because of the underclassmen.
“The team works really well together,” sophomore defender Pamela Chavez said. “It was a good season. The playoffs are going to be tough, but we are ready for them.”
Double-digit goal scorer Mia Ramos also was a big factor for the team, as well as all of the seniors, Acosta said.
“They all decided to stay and give it another chance,” Acosta said. “You can see it in practice that they were so different compared to previous years, their skills, their speed and the way they built relationships. It was bigger than just winning a game.”
Riverview now has it sights set on another title.
The boys are in the hunt to be tri-district champions if they prevail against Jubilee today. If Brownsville IDEA Frontier wins and Riverview wins, there will be a three-way tie for the title. If Jubilee wins, it takes the crown outright.
“The season is going good,” Riverview boys coach Rodolfo Rodriguez said. “They are as ready as they can be. They want to fight for that game. It will guarantee us at least the second seed.”
Jubilee and Riverview have gone at it this season. Jubilee won both matches, 4-2 in a tournament and 3-2 during the first round of district.
The matches will be at Jubilee. The boys start at 5:30 p.m., and the girls begin soon after.