By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The Lopez Lobos are returning to the UIL state soccer tournament for the second time in three years.
And they’ve got some company.
For the first time, thanks to Saturday’s regional final victories, the Rio Grande Valley is sending three boys teams to state — Lopez in Class 6A, the Porter Cowboys in Class 5A and the Progreso Red Ants in Class 4A.
It also marks the first time for two Brownsville teams to advance to the state tournament in Georgetown during the same season.
After their numerous scoring chances were repeatedly turned away, the Lobos finally found the net with 3 1/2 minutes remaining Saturday to prevail against San Antonio Reagan 1-0 in the Region IV-6A Tournament final at Brownsville Sports Park.
It was one of the most difficult wins the District 32-6A champion Lobos (21-2-1) have recorded this season as they went against the taller, more physical and defensively sound District 26-6A champion Rattlers (22-2-4).
Still, capturing such a hard-fought victory and returning to state made it all the more satisfying for the Lobos.
“It’s one of the most beautiful feelings you can ever experience in your life,” said Benito Cazares, a senior central defender who played for the Lobos when they advanced to state in 2014. “It’s been my goal to go back since my sophomore year.”
Actually, this marks the Lobos’ fourth trip to state after advancing in 2004, 2009 and 2014. Lopez won the 4A title in 2004 and was the 5A state runner-up in 2009. Lopez lost in the 5A state semifinals in 2014.
“I feel great, we’re going to Georgetown,” said Jose “Chevy” Echavarria, the Lobos’ sophomore attacking midfielder. “That was our goal since the season started.”
Pairings for the UIL state tournament are scheduled to be announced Sunday. The tournament runs four days starting Wednesday at Georgetown ISD’s Birkelbach Field.
On Saturday, just when overtime and the possibility of penalty kicks appeared quite likely, the Lobos came through with the only goal they needed on a set play.
With a fairly strong wind blowing at his back, Lopez’s German Vera took a long free kick from midfield that carried into the goalmouth. The ball went off the shoulder of Lopez’s Ulysses Ortegon and on the deflection was tapped into the right corner of the goal from point-blank range by teammate Edson Solis. The Reagan goalkeeper, who had stopped everything up to that point, couldn’t make a play on the ball in time to prevent the score.
“My mind went blank and I just reacted (when the ball came to me),” said Solis, a junior forward. “I knew I had to put it in.
“We’re so happy,” Solis added. “We’ve worked so hard for this.”
Lopez advanced to Saturday’s match after rallying to defeat Schertz Clemens 3-2 on Friday in the regional semifinals. Reagan won its regional semifinal 3-2 Friday against Laredo United South.
“We saw Reagan play Friday and we saw that they have a very good defense,” Lopez coach Amadeo Escandon said. “We knew the scoring opportunities were going to be few. We told the players to just keep on trying. ‘All we need is one,’ is what we told them. We had a set play on our goal, and thanks to God, it worked.
“We’ve said since the beginning of the season that this is a special team,” Escandon added. “Now it’s a team that is going back to state.”
NOTE — San Antonio MacArthur scored a second-half goal to defeat San Antonio O’Connor 1-0 in the Region IV-6A Tournament girls final earlier Saturday at Brownsville Sports Park. It is now MacArthur’s first trip to state since 2008. MacArthur’s girls also advanced to state in 2005 and 2006.
In Friday’s regional semifinals, MacArthur defeated Del Rio 1-0 and O’Connor shut out Los Fresnos 2-0.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess