BROWNSVILLE — District foes take to the pitch for the fourth time today, but with a spot in the regional tournament on the line.
District 32-6A’s Brownsville Rivera and Harlingen High meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Bobby Morrow Stadium in San Benito in a third-round playoff meeting.
The Raiders and Cardinals have played three times this season. Brownsville Rivera came out on top in all three matches. The first win was by a score of 2-0 in a tournament. The next two came in District 32-6A, with the Raiders taking the first district match 3-2 in Harlingen, then 1-0 in Brownsville.
The Raiders faced an improved Cardinals team each match they played, Brownsville Rivera head coach Salvador Garcia said. Garcia and Harlingen High head coach Joseph Johnson have been texting since the beginning of the playoffs, hoping for this meeting.
“We love that one of us is going to be able to represent our district,” Garcia said. “The first three games were tough, and we expect the same. They are playing with more confidence and scoring more, so we know we have to prepare ourselves.”
Garcia praised his defense for its performance against San Antonio O’Connor. The Raiders defeated the Panthers 1-0 to set up the meeting with Harlingen High.
“We have been practicing a lot, everything worked out how we trained it,” senior captain and defender Jose Diaz said. “We have played them before, but it is a new game. I know we are both going to go hard for the win.”
The Raiders won the state championship in 2015. The Cardinals have not made it to the third round since 2000, when they made it to the final four.
It took only two seasons for the Cardinals to make it under Johnson. Garcia is impressed with the Cardinals’ progression under Johnson.
“Our season ended last year on a Friday, we were back after school every day starting on Monday,” Johnson said.
A hard-working summer and a tough non-district schedule has helped the Cardinals achieve the success they have had this season, Johnson said.
“We know that as long as if we play our game, our style of soccer, we can hang with anyone,” Johnson said.
The Cardinals did a lot of defending last season, a good base to build on. This season, a switch tactically to a more offensive-minded formation has been key, the second-year head coach said. The Cardinals have eight goals in the playoffs with wins over Edinburg Economedes and Del Rio.
Harlingen High came from two goals down to beat Del Rio 3-2 on Tuesday.
“We put in a lot of work and dedication to make it this far,” senior defender and co-captain Damian Jaure said. “Us getting to the third round was because of that.”
The Cardinals beat the Raiders last season in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw. Penalties could be where the game is decided. Johnson said he has a massive amount of trust in his keeper, Juan Zapata.
“Once the whistle blows, the nerves go away,” Zapata said. “When it comes to penalties, I just need to do my job. I have nothing to lose, but everything to win.”
The Lower Valley plays host to three playoff matches Friday; the other two take place in Class 5A. Four former state champions in total are playing.
Brownsville Porter and Sharyland High meet at 7 p.m. Friday at the Brownsville Sports Park. The Cowboys have titles in 2016 and 2006, and Sharyland High has a championship in 2009.
Brownsville Lopez, the first to win it from the Valley in 2004, hosts La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at 7 p.m. Friday at Lopez High School.
Brownsville Jubilee and Hidalgo play on Friday as well, but in the Mid Valley at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco High School. The Valley is guaranteed to have at least four teams in various regional tournaments.