BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — McAllen Rowe was 10 minutes away from breaking its playoff drought and qualifying for the 2018 postseason. Instead, McAllen Memorial scored a goal late in regulation to claim the final playoff spot and break Warrior hearts on their home turf.
This year, hard work — and a fortunate circumstance — were on the Warriors’ side and they found their way into the postseason field of four. Rowe will host District 29-6A champions Laredo United at 7:30 p.m Friday. Rowe’s girls also fought their way into the postseason, in the fourth spot as well, and will play prior to the boys at 5:30 p.m., also against Laredo United, at McAllen Rowe High School.
After Mission High’s team had wins reversed earlier this month, the door was opened for McAllen Rowe or PSJA North to claim the final spot and keep the Eagles out of the postseason. All three teams played at the same time against different opponents that were not in the playoff hunt.
The Raiders lost to McAllen High, which meant the Warriors were next in line. Even if Mission won and both teams tied in points, Rowe would advance on goal differential head-to-head.
The only thing standing in the way were the Memorial Mustangs, who had already qualified for the playoffs. Rowe wasn’t deterred, beating Memorial 3-2 on the road, holding on to the late lead to qualify for their first postseason in six seasons.
“I’ve been here for three years already and it felt good beating Memorial again,” junior defender Cesar Gonzalez said. “We were mad about it because we lost here last year. We went over there and showed them what we got.”
Now, the Warriors can look forward to the first playoff game any of the players have experienced. Even after Friday’s win, the team couldn’t settle on how long it’s been since their school made the postseason.
“This is my last year and it feels good to make the playoffs in my last year after not making in the playoffs in — I don’t know, six, seven, eight years,” senior midfielder Julio Boites said. “I think (playing at home) it’s going to make our team more inspired.”
Second-year Rowe coach Jose ‘Chico’ Jimenez said his experience coaching in the tough-as-nails Brownsville area, along with competing against elite teams in the Upper Valley have prepared him for the stiff challenge.
“It happened many times when I was at (Brownsville) Pace,” Jimenez said. “We were fourth place and going against (Edinburg) Economedes twice I believe, and we managed to beat them twice. People tend to say there is no respect for them (fourth-place teams). The only respect is what you have in you.”
Midfielder Brandon Vazquez is one of the team’s most technically sound players. He said this year has been a good learning experience for a relatively young roster.
“We have a lot of (underclassmen), but they have talent,” Vazquez said. “This is our first time going to playoffs in my high school years. We’re trying to work hard every practice so we can beat the district champions of Laredo.”
An upset win would be just another chapter in the storybook year for the Warriors that started back in November when they watched former head coach, current assistant Manny Garcia walk onto the soccer field under his power for the first time since a massive stroke in 2014.
“We are very happy to have coach Manny (Garcia) back from that stroke,” Vazquez said. “We would like to win the playoff game for him and all the school.”
Y LOS NINAS TAMBIEN (THE GIRLS TOO)
First up, however, is the Warriors girls team that finished fourth in district but return many roster players who were a part of their run to the third round last year.
In 2018 the Warriors earned wins over San Antonio Southwest and PSJA High before falling by a goal in the regional quarterfinals to Brownsville Rivera.
“The experience that they gained last year, that’s something that can’t be taught,” Rowe coach John Martinez said. “They earned every bit of it last year and we’re hoping to carry that over to this year.”
Rowe finished 8-6 in district. All three losses came to teams above the Warriors in the standings: McAllen High, Juarez-Lincoln and McAllen Memorial.
“Starting in the beginning of the year, one of the goals that we talked about was obviously making the playoffs,” Martinez said. “With our district being as tough as it is, you just want to get in. Once you get looking at some of the matchups, we have a good chance to make a run. We’re going to respect whoever we play.”
The coach likes his team’s ability to build plays from the defense and feels his roster if packed with ability.
“Our defense creates those spaces,” Martinez said. “They try to pressure us; we play it into those open spaces. Our midfield (is strong), having Alexa (Garza), Natalia (Vela) and, obviously, Emily (Morin) on the right, an all-Valley midfielder.”
Martinez says his team’s ability to create chances is elite. He feels if his group is able to convert chances into goals at a higher rate, they are even more dangerous than their results indicate.
“I think we’ve been the unluckiest team when it comes to putting goals away,” Martinez said with a laugh. “We’ve hit the post a bunch of times this season. I’m hoping it doesn’t happen in the playoffs and a few of those go in.”