By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Barely one month into the season, there seems to be no stopping the Rivera Raiders, the No. 1 team in the Rio Grande Valley.
Rivera received its strongest challenge thus far in the District 32-6A race against the Lopez Lobos on a rainy night Tuesday at Sams Memorial Stadium. Lopez took an early 2-0 lead before the Raiders responded with four goals prior to the end of the half and eventually won 4-2 to improve to 3-0 in the 32-6A standings.
If a close-range shot had not sailed just wide of the right post, the Lobos (1-2) would have gone up 3-0. But in the end, it didn’t seem to matter as Rivera stepped up its play on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field after trailing early to ensure that it would remain undefeated in district.
“It was the fifth time (this season) we’ve gotten behind on the scoreboard and our players found a way to come back,” Raiders coach Salvador Garcia said. “I see that as the difference between the Rivera team we have now and the Rivera from years before, when it was hard for us to react (the way we should) when going down in the score.
“This is a different team with a different mentality,” Garcia added. “There’s resiliency. The players know what they want. We all have a goal (of winning it all) and we’re working for it. We feel we’re working for something that is there for us to get. The players believe in themselves, and they believe in what they’re doing. Even though we have most of the same guys back, somehow, they have a different mentality.”
Added Rivera attacking midfielder Isidro “Chelin” Martinez, who scored the go-ahead goal to make it 3-2 on Tuesday, “Even though we’re 3-0, we haven’t had a great game yet. There’s been some sloppy play. We’re thankful for the support we have, and I feel we’re going to continue to get better.”
The Raiders play Friday at Harlingen South (2-1), which is coming off wins over Lopez and Los Fresnos.
FASHION STATEMENT
Lopez soccer teams have been leaders in a number of ways, such as winning district titles and becoming the first Rio Grande Valley team to bring home a UIL state championship in their sport in 2004.
Now the Lobos can be considered fashion trend setters as well, thanks to the neon green away uniforms that they wore against Rivera on Tuesday. The Lobos were dressed in bright neon green jerseys with matching neon green socks along with black shorts.
Lopez coach Amadeo Escandon said his team wore the brand-new, distinctive uniforms for the first time during its 32-6A opener Jan. 27 at Los Fresnos.
“It’s just something different,” Escandon said. “The players love them.”
32-5A SHOWDOWN
Porter and Pace lead District 32-5A with 3-0 records and will collide at 7:30 p.m. Friday to see which of them will emerge alone atop the conference standings.
“Pace is for real,” Porter coach Jose Espitia said. “It’ll be a dogfight.”
The Vikings are trying to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2010 under first-year coach Mario A. Zamora.
“Right now, I see the team playing well, doing what we have been practicing and understanding new ideas of play,” said Zamora, previously the coach at St. Joseph Academy. “Even though we are 3-0 in district, we’re still working hard, fixing errors and concentrating on details to come up with the best version of Pace soccer.”
TITLE MATCH
The Bloodhounds are 13-3-2 after a 1-0 non-district win at home Tuesday against Marine Military Academy. Jose Kauachi scored the lone goal of the game to lift SJA to victory.
The Bloodhounds will take a 4-1 TAPPS record into Saturday’s game with their lone district loss coming at Central Catholic on Jan. 3. The Buttons are also 4-1, so Saturday’s winner will be the TAPPS district champion.
“We’re excited (about playing them again),” SJA coach Tino Villarreal said.
ONES TO WATCH
Besides the previously mentioned weekend matchups, other boys games of interest at 7:15 p.m. Friday in 32-6A include Hanna at Lopez, San Benito at Brownsville Veterans Memorial and Harlingen High at Los Fresnos.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.