By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
GEORGETOWN — It was worth the wait.
During a marathon five-game stretch of soccer with several lengthy delays due to lightning at Friday’s UIL state tournament at Georgetown ISD’s Birkelbach Field, the Rivera Raiders capped the long day with a with 5-1 Class 6A semifinal victory against North Mesquite.
The District 32-6A champion Raiders (27-0) advanced to Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. 6A state final against Katy Cinco Ranch (22-0-4), a 2-1 victor over Arlington Sam Houston earlier Friday.
“I told our players as we were waiting for our game, ‘Tonight we’re going to make Rivera history (by reaching the state final), and Saturday, God willing, we’re going to make Valley history,’” Rivera coach Salvador Garcia said. “I told them it didn’t matter if we were playing in rain or whatever, we were going to win.”
Due to multiple lightning delays, the Raiders’ game, which was scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., didn’t get under way until 10:25 p.m. Once it did, the weather was ideal with slightly cool temperatures, no rain and only a little breeze.
Alexis Herrera’s goal from 15 yards just 17 minutes into the match gave Rivera a 1-0 lead.
Teammate Roberto Figueroa made it 2-0 with a medium-range tally amid a crowd eight minutes later.
The score at halftime was 2-0.
“It feels great,” said Eliseo Ortiz, a senior forward for Rivera, of the decisive win. “We had April 18, the day of the state final, on our calendar since Day 1.
“At halftime, Coach Garcia told us to finish them,” Ortiz added.
District 10-6A co-champion North Mesquite (22-4-1) pulled to within 2-1 on a penalty kick by Franco Resendiz with 15 minutes left.
With a little more than eight minutes remaining, Rivera’s Israel Acero found the net from close range to boost the lead to 3-1. Then it became 4-1 with six minutes left on a goal by Rivera’s Julian Espinoza. The Raiders weren’t done. Then it became 5-1 thanks to Eliezer Acero’s goal with 3:21 showing.
A good group of 300-plus fans showed up to cheer on Rivera.
“This support here at state is the best,” said Rivera’s Isidro “Chelin” Martinez, a senior attacking midfielder. “ It’s people we know, and I’m glad we have this crowd here. The support is not only from our school, it’s from the (whole) Valley, too.”
Rivera is making its third appearance at state after advancing in 2005 and 2007 and losing in the semifinals both times.
It was also the third time at state for the Stallions, who previously went in 1986 and 1987.