By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
With all the goals going into the net on the offensive end of the field for the Rivera soccer team, perhaps the Raiders’ defense is taken for granted a little bit.
But that’s certainly not the case concerning how the Rivera players and coaches see it. They highly value the job the team’s defenders perform and appreciate how those players are the ones to initiate the offense that develops as the ball travels down the field with precision passing and many times results in a goal scored.
The defense will be put to the test again when the Raiders (26-0) go against North Mesquite (22-3-1) in the Class 6A semifinals of the UIL state tournament at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Georgetown ISD’s Birkelbach Field.
If Rivera wins Friday, the Raiders will play Katy CincoRanch (21-0-4) or Arlington Sam Houston (23-2-2) in the 6A state final at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Rivera coach Salvador Garcia said the defense has been a solid part of the District 32-6A champion Raiders’ arsenal all season.
“It’s nice to have a feeling of confidence in our defense, knowing that those guys know what to do,” Garcia said. “They’re up to the challenge, and they have a lot of confidence in each other. It’s a defense that sometimes may bend, but it doesn’t break.
“Yes, maybe the fact that we’ve been scoring so many goals (an average of more than five per game) may overshadow what our defense does, but you know what they say, ‘Offense wins games and defense wins championships,’” Garcia added. “That’s what they’ve been doing for us.”
The Raiders’ main three defenders in the back are Israel Acero, Jesus Torres and HernanCruz along with help from Erik Alonso and Eduardo Salinas, who rotate in and out. Jesus Zaragoza is the goalkeeper. All of them are seniors except for Cruz, a junior.
“Playing on defense with ‘Chino’ (Acero) and ‘Nano’ (Cruz), it’s very good being out there with them,” said Torres, a two-year starter. “The three of us are all working together to help the team get the win and move forward. We’ve worked many hours together to get where we are (as a good defense).
“Now we’re experiencing what it’s like to go to state,” Torres added. “It feels great, and we feel we have the team to win it. The coaches believe it ,and so do the players on the field and the ones on the bench.”
Added Cruz, a defensive midfielder and three-year starter, “The job on our part of the field is not letting the opponent score.It’s been two whole seasons now of playing with my brothers Torres and ‘Chino’ by my side, and we already have had a great experience playing there together. It’s just pretty awesome.
“It’s amazing to know that the offense starts with us,” he added. “The defense does its part, and from where we’re at we can see the offense doing its part. It’s just doing every single part of what we have to do to score the goal. We’re just working hard every single day and staying humble.”
The Raiders allowed the fewest goals (11) in 32-6A this season while posting seven district wins by shutout. On the season, they’ve recorded 11 shutouts and outscored opponents 131-23 in 26 games.
“As much as we’ve gone through (to get to this point), it means a lot,” said Israel Acero, a three-year starter whose younger brother Eliezar “Chaii” Aceroplays in the midfield. “There’s more recognition for us now, and we’re showing what we’re capable of (by going to state). We’ve been here four long years trying to make a statement, and now we’re making that statement.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.