BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Hidalgo senior striker Jonathan Gomez made his presence known in the Class 4A Region IV quarterfinals on Saturday at H-E-B Park.
Gomez scored a pair of goals to lead the Pirates past the Grulla Gators 3-2.
“This felt special,” Hidalgo coach Esequiel Morales said. “Especially being at this venue. I was just talking about how wonderful this venue is, and how special it is to play here. … It’s amazing that we are the first two schools to play here, and it is a great showcase for our team.”
The third round marked the furthest any of the Pirates had been in the playoffs. They were thrilled when they punched their ticket to the fourth round for the first time in their careers.
Gomez just needed to get the game going to find his rhythm.
“I was very nervous today, before the game,” Gomez said. “After I got that first touch, I was excited.”
The Pirates will face Liberty Hill in the regional semifinals at 4 p.m. Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“I’m sure they are going to be a very good team,” Morales said. “At this level, every team you play is a good team. … We know they are going to be well-coached. We saw them when they came down for the regional tournament a few years ago.”
Gomez was thankful for the support from the Hidalgo faithful.
“The crowd helps us a lot,” Gomez said. “It isn’t about just us. I want to thank the crowd today. And I can’t wait to see the crowd next week. We are just excited about moving on.”
Hidalgo found offense on the counterattack. The first goal was set up by a counter that resulted in a foul on the left wing, just outside the box. Freshman Angel Espinoza swung the free kick deep into the box, hooking it narrowly inside the crossbar and to the right of the goalie for the first score of the game.
“(Making it look like a pass) was the idea,” Morales said. “We have set plays, and we set him up. The kid did really well. He executed it perfectly. I am very happy about that.”
Gomez scored his pair of goals in the first half to put the Pirates up 3-0. Both tallies came when he made runs past the Grulla defense. Both times he was one-on-one with the keeper, and both times he scored near side.
“After the first time they kicked it up (to me), I saw the defense was a little bit slow,” Gomez said. “I knew I could beat them with speed. The rain helped a lot. The water helped.”
After his second goal, Gomez cartwheeled into a backflip, which fired up the crowd.
“(Gomez) is one of my best friends,” senior captain Joshua Morales said. “Seeing him score and do those famous backflips, it’s amazing. …. Jonathan is such a great athlete. He’s quick. He’s fast. He’s good with the ball at his feet. We knew coming in that the field would be wet, which makes it easier for Jonathan to dribble around those defenders.”
Rivals Hidalgo and Grulla met twice during the regular season, and each team won one matchup 2-1. The games were physical, and the rivalry intensified in the third meeting. Hidalgo was eager to come out with the tiebreaker and win the season series.
“We told our guys at halftime, 3-0 is nothing,” Esequiel Morales said. “We saw a couple teams get eliminated from the playoffs after having a lead at halftime. We just had to be ready.”
Despite Morales’ warning, Grulla would not be denied. In the second half, Gators junior Josue Carrillo netted a pair of free kicks to bring the game to within one goal, 3-2.
“I was very nervous, and I was frustrated with the team,” Gomez said. “I kept telling them, ‘Stay positive, and we will come out with the win.’”
Carrillo’s second goal came from more than 35 yards away. On both scores, Carrillo tucked his shot just under the bar, and the keeper couldn’t make the play.
Gomez has been a reliable source of offense for the Pirates this year, but Morales said the senior has been on another level since the playoffs began.
“He is a senior, so that pressure, and those expectations, have been there all year, and he has still delivered,” Morales said. “I’m very blessed to have him. We are very excited about the game he had today.”