BROWNSVILLE — Fireworks were expected heading into Tuesday’s District 32-5A contest between Brownsville Lopez and Brownsville Porter.
The Lobos and Cowboys entered the match as the top two scoring teams in the district, averaging 7 and 3.6 goals per game, respectively.
The Cowboys, however, weren’t looking to get into a shootout with the Lobos, switching up their style of play for the game in hopes of slowing down Lopez’s high-powered offense.
The defensive game plan worked, with the Cowboys stifling the Lobos en route to a 1-0 win in this year’s first rendition of the Battle of the Southmost.
“Lopez had been scoring five to nine goals on almost everybody,” Brownsville Porter head coach Jose Espitia said. “We wanted to stop them. That’s why we switched our style of play for tonight, and it worked out. We were able to hold them to zero. Lopez is hungry to showcase their talent, so we knew it was going to be a tough one. It is also the Battle of the Southmost, so that’s always a hard one.”
The Cowboys defensive game plan kept offensive opportunities minimal, waiting for the right situation to counterattack.
The perfect moment came during the 24th minute, with Brownsville Porter midfielder Martin Gonzalez taking a long pass and beating the defense before making the goalkeeper fall and delivering a strike into the wide-open net for the go-ahead goal.
“That was the plan,” Espitia said. “Go out there and frustrate them to create those chances for Alessandro (Lopez) and Martin (Gonzalez) up there. That is what happened. Alessandro put it on the floor and set it up for Martin.”
“I honestly wasn’t going to run after the ball,” Gonzalez said. “When I saw it I knew I could reach it, so I took off. I was by myself with the goalie and he slipped, so I was able to strike it in for the goal.”
Defensively, the Cowboys made it difficult for Lopez’s offense, holding the Lobos scoreless for the first time this season and notching their fifth shutout of the year.
The victory moves the Cowboys to 7-1-0 on the year, reeling off seven straight wins since losing their district opener to Weslaco East, taking sole possession of first place. They have outscored opponents 26-3 during that span.
“Since that loss our mentality changed,” Brownsville Porter defender Ricardo Leal said. “We went from thinking because we had won the Brownsville tournament we were going to be No. 1. Weslaco East knocked us off that cloud. Since then, we’ve been focused in practice. We know everything needs to be taken seriously because this district won’t be easy.”
The Cowboys close out the first round of district play at 5:30 p.m. Friday, hosting Donna High (2-6-0). The Lobos (6-2-0) hit the road at 5:30 p.m. Friday against Edcouch Elsa (1-5-2).