By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers were a little down after their first game Thursday at the 34th annual Brownsville ISD boys soccer tournament.
The three-day, 32-team event is taking place at Brownsville Sports Park along with the 17th annual BISD girls tournament, which has a field of 28 teams and also runs three days.
The Chargers have nine starters back this season from last year’s playoff team, and they have high expectations for what their squad can accomplish in 2016.
But the coaches and players weren’t feeling all that great Thursday after the Chargers dropped their tournament opener 1-0 in penalty kicks against Laredo Alexander. Regulation play ended with a scoreless tie before Alexander prevailed 5-4 in penalties.
After that match, the Chargers were anxious to redeem themselves as they went against San Antonio Antonian later in the day in the consolation bracket.
“We have a lot of expectations to go far in the playoffs this year,” said Humberto Trevino, a senior midfielder for the Chargers. “I think this team has what it takes (to do well) if we do the right things on the field. We have the willingness to play together as a team, and we try to touch the ball as much as possible.
“Initially, our mentality was to win (the tournament),” Trevino added. “(We’re still using the tournament) to get used to each other on the field and to get back into the rhythm of playing a lot of games every week.
“We have real high expectations. We just need to get it together.”
One year ago, the Chargers finished fourth in District 32-6A and went on to dominate District 31-6A champion Edinburg North 3-0 in bi-district before being eliminated 2-1 in penalty kicks by a solid squad from La Joya Juarez-Lincoln during the second round of the playoffs.
Brownsville Veterans is motivated to do even better this season.
“We have very good communication on the field, we bond and that’s what is helping us,” said Estuardo Teran, a senior central defender for the Chargers. “Knowing we were so close last year (to advancing beyond the second round) has motivated us in believing we can achieve what we want to achieve and advance (farther).
“We just have to keep our heads up and look forward to the next games,” Teran added.
Brownsville Veterans coach Alberto Vasquez said that if anything, his team’s disappointing setback against Alexander should give the Chargers plenty of reasons to refocus and get back on track.
“We were off sync a little bit, and we didn’t necessarily play our game,” Vasquez said. “We didn’t move the ball around as quickly as we should have. We didn’t take care of the ball well enough to create the (scoring) opportunities we should have had.
“Alexander played a good game, and they were smart in their movements,” Vasquez added. “They didn’t leave much space for us (to maneuver), and then they took advantage of the PKs situation. I think we have a solid team. We just didn’t show it in our first tournament game, but as the predistrict schedule goes along, I think we’ve been getting better.
“We feel pretty good with the group we have. We just need to keep working harder and continue to make sure we don’t have any more game like this one we had today. With the type of district we have, we can’t afford to play like that (and expect to do well). We have to make sure we’re energized and ready to go (every game).”
Thursday, Jan. 14
Boys scores
Tournaments
34th annual Brownsville ISD Tournament
At Brownsville Sports Park
Navy Bracket
Game 1: Lopez 7, Pace 2
Game 2: McAllen High 6, Donna North 1
Game 3: St. Joseph Academy 3, McAllen Rowe 2
Game 4: Mercedes def. PSJA High
Game 5: Harlingen High 4, La Joya High 0
Game 6: Edinburg North 4, Grulla 1
Game 7: Laredo United South 4, San Antonio Antonian Prep 0
Game 8: Laredo Alexander 1, Brownsville Veterans Memorial 0, PKs (5-4)
Game 9: McAllen High 2, Lopez 1
Game 10: Pace 2, Donna North 0
Game 11: St. Joseph 6, Mercedes 2
Game 12: PSJA High 4, McAllen Rowe 3
Game 13: Edinburg North 3, Harlingen High 2
Game 14: La Joya High 5, Grulla 0
Game 15: Laredo United South 3, Laredo Alexander 1
Game 16: Brownsville Veterans 5, San Antonio Antonian 1
Gold Bracket
Game 17: La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 4, Rivera 0
Game 18: La Joya Palmview 4, Mission Veterans Memorial 1
Game 19: Porter 6, PSJA Memorial 1
Game 20: Hanna 3, Mission High 0
Game 21: Rio Grande City 1, Donna High 0
Game 22: Harlingen South 5, Port Isabel 2
Game 23: Laredo LBJ 3, Weslaco High 2, PKs
Game 24: Laredo Martin 17, Raymondville 0
Game 25: La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 2, La Joya Palmview 0
Game 26: Rivera 4, Mission Veterans Memorial 0
Game 27: Porter 2, Hanna 0
Game 28: PSJA Memorial 7, Mission High 6, PKs
Game 29: Harlingen South 9, Rio Grande City 1
Game 30: Port Isabel 1, Donna High 0
Game 31: LBJ 4, Laredo Martin 2
Game 32: Weslaco High 12, Raymondville 0
Girls scores
Tournaments
17th annual Brownsville ISD Tournament
At Brownsville Sports Park
Pool Play
Hanna 3, La Joya High 0
Lopez 2, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 0
Brownsville Veterans Memorial 3, Mission High 0
Rivera 1, La Joya Palmview 0
Pace 7, Rio Hondo 0
Donna High 2, Progreso 0
Porter 1, La Feria 0
PSJA High 2, Hidalgo 0
PSJA Memorial 1, PSJA North 0
Los Fresnos 2, Edinburg Economedes 1, PKs
McAllen High 2, Edinburg High 0
Harlingen High 4, Edinburg North 3, PKs
Valley View 3, La Joya High 0
La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 1, Laredo LBJ 0
Mission High 2, Martin 1
Laredo United South 1, Laredo Palmview 0
Hanna 2, PSJA Memorial 0
Lopez 1, Edinburg Economedes 0
Brownsville Veterans Memorial 1, Edinburg High 0, PKs
Edinburg North 2, Rivera 0
Pace 2, PSJA North 1
Los Fresnos 5, Donna High 0
McAllen High 2, Porter 1
Harlingen High 4, PSJA High 0
PSJA Memorial 3, Rio Hondo 0
Edinburg Economedes 6, Progreso 0
Edinburg High 1, La Feria 0
Edinburg North 3, Hidalgo 0
La Joya High 1, PSJA North 0, PKs
Los Fresnos 2, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 0
McAllen High 1, Mission High 0, PKs
Harlingen High 2, La Joya Palmview 1
Valley View 4, Rio Hondo 0
Laredo LBJ 3, Progreso 0
Laredo Martin 1, La Feria 0, PKs
Laredo United South 5, Hidalgo 0
Hanna 1, Pace 0, PKs
Lopez 4, Donna High 0
Brownsville Veterans Memorial 1, Porter 0
Rivera 1, PSJA High 0
Edcouch-Elsa Showcase
Sharyland High 4, Edinburg IDEA Quest 0
Harlingen South 3, Mission Veterans Memorial 0
Edinburg Vela 7, Grulla 0
Edcouch-Elsa 6, Lyford 0