By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
To their credit, the Rivera Raiders started the soccer season in January playing at a high level and never lost sight of their date with destiny on April 18 at the UIL state tournament in Georgetown.
Although the players didn’t initially understand why, April 18 was the day that Rivera coach Salvador Garcia told them to keep on their minds back when the season began. He wanted them to set a goal of playing in the final game on the last day of the season, which was the Class 6A boys championship match at state.
The Rivera players quickly embraced the significance of April 18. They maintained their focus and captured the District 32-6A crown before winning seven straight games in the playoffs, the last of which was Saturday night’s 2-0 victory over Katy Cinco Ranch to claim the state’s first 6A title in boys soccer with a 28-0 record.
Yes, the Raiders made it to April 18, just as their coach had challenged them to do back in January, and they came out shining.
While it became the Rio Grande Valley’s fifth UIL state title in boys soccer following Lopez in 2004, Porter in 2006, Hidalgo in 2009 and Sharyland High in 2012, it’s the first time a Valley team has done it with an undefeated record.
“No words can explain how happy and excited we are, knowing that we’re 28-0 with a perfect season, making our dream come true and not being the team of ‘almost there, almost there,’” said Hernan Cruz, a junior defensive midfielder for the Raiders. “An undefeated season with a state title is unimaginable.
“Since the beginning we knew it was going to be tough and everything, but we stayed humble and stayed together as a family, as brothers and as a unit, just playing Rivera’s style of soccer,” Cruz added. “That’s what helped us get to state and go 28-0.”
Added teammate Israel Acero , a senior defender, “We made it. It was a dream and a goal, and that was it.”
Amazingly, Rivera could have been even better. Senior midfielder Ray Alvarez, expected to be an integral player for the Raiders, was lost to a season-ending injury the third week of January during Rivera’s first game at the Brownsville ISD Tournament.
But that injury didn’t prevent the Raiders from fielding a team that boasted three senior go-to scoring threats in Eliseo Ortiz (26 goals), Isidro “ Chelin ” Martinez (23) and Alexis Herrera (21) along with a fluid, active midfield and an unyielding defense that gave up only one goal at Georgetown. It was a penalty kick by North Mesquite during a 5-1 state semifinal victory Friday in a game that didn’t end until just after midnight due to lightning delays.
Martinez, a four-year starter recently signed by the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, was named MVP of Saturday’s title game. “Chelin” scored Rivera’s first goal 16 minutes into the match against Cinco Ranch to set the Raiders on their path to the championship.
“It’s unbelievable how we played two games in 16 hours (at state), stayed focused and won them both,” Martinez said. “It’s for the Valley.”
The UIL announced its state all-tournament selections Sunday. Besides Martinez as the 6A boys MVP, other Raiders chosen were brothers Israel and Eliezer Acero, Eliseo Ortiz and Alexis Herrera.
Behind it all is Garcia, now in his 18th year of guiding the Raiders with a career record of 365-101-49.
“It’s amazing not only to win it all and go undefeated, but the way we did it by playing an attractive, beautiful style,” said Garcia, whose Raiders returned to Brownsville on Sunday and were given a victory parade along with a welcome home party on the Rivera campus. “We’ve gotten so many compliments about our team’s display of soccer.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet, but when it does, I know it’s going to be a magical, beautiful memory,” he added.
The respect for Garcia, assisted by Andres Macias, Jose Dominguez, Jimmy Montalvo and others, is only increasing.
“These kids are a reflection of their coach,” said Richard Guerra, a fellow coach at Rivera. “They work hard, stay humble and are like a family. That is what Salvador preaches.
“The Raider soccer program has achieved many things over the years, but the man behind it has stayed the same all the time I’ve known him,” Guerra added. “He is a great coach and a great family man. Having this team win the first-ever UIL 6A state title with an unblemished record, it’s an achievement of a lifetime. This means a lot for Rivera and for Brownsville as both accomplishments are now etched into the record books. (All I can say is) ‘Go Raiders!’”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.