By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The Rivera Raiders learned Sunday they’ll be playing the North Mesquite Stallions at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Class 6A boys semifinals at the UIL state soccer tournament in Georgetown.
When asked Sunday about his team’s next opponent, Raiders coach Salvador Garcia said, “Right now, I know absolutely nothing about them. What we certainly know is that they should be good since they beat Austin Lake Travis(2-0 Saturday in the Region II-6A Tournament final), and Lake Travis has a great team.
“I feel that at this point of the season, teams don’t change much,” Garcia added. “We can adjust a bit here and there according to the opponent and situation, but you always try to play to your strength and style.”
The lone common opponent this season for District 32-6A champion Rivera (26-0) and District 10-6A runner-up North Mesquite (22-3-1) is Lake Travis.
The Raiders defeated Lake Travis 3-2 back in January at The Woodlands Boys Kilt Tournament, and the Stallions prevailed over the Cavaliers 2-0 on Saturday in their regional final at Round Rock ISD’s Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex.
Rivera defeated San Antonio Brandeis 3-1 on Saturday in the Region IV-6A Tournament final at Brownsville Sports Park to qualify for the state tournament for the first time since 2007 and third time overall. The Raiders also advanced to state in 2005.
This will be the third time at state for North Mesquite as well. The Stallions previously went to state in 1986 and 1987.
Friday’s other 6A boys semifinal at 5 p.m. at Georgetown has Region III champion Katy Cinco Ranch (21-0-4) playing Region I champion Arlington Sam Houston (23-2-2). This will be Katy Cinco Ranch’s second trip to state, and it will be the first for Arlington Sam Houston.
The Rivera-North Mesquite winner will play the Katy Cinco Ranch-Arlington Sam Houston winner at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the 6A state final. It will be the final match of the four-day, 18-game state tournament being played for the first time in three classifications for boys and girls at Georgetown’s Birkelbach Field.
This marks the third straight year and fourth time in five seasons that a Brownsville team has represented the Rio Grande Valley at state.
“I truly believe that if the Lord gives us an opportunity to step onto the playing field and compete, then without a doubt, we have a chance to win any game,” Garcia said. “It certainly does (feel good to be going to state), but we are not done yet. We still have work to do.”
On a related note, Arlington Sam Houston is coached by Joey Rodriguez, and one of his assistants is former Hanna cross country/track coach Jaime Vasquez, who is the Texans’ coach in cross country.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.