BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — It’s been three years since the Sharyland High boys soccer team was district champions. But when you’re a program with a star above your team’s crest to signify a state championship, sometimes your dreams are bigger than a regular-season trophy.
Senior goalkeeper Gabriel Tamez has backstopped his team to a 12-1 district record, while conceding only two goals against District 31-5A opponents.
Tamez, who doubles as a wide receiver/placekicker in the fall, joined his soccer family after saying goodbye to his friends on the football field after the Rattlers second-round playoff game loss.
“I’d like to give a lot of credit to these guys,” Tamez said. “I wasn’t with them in the preseason due to football but everything I heard and I saw these guys was working. They were all pushing for a goal a little bigger than just the district championship.”
Throughout district play, the Rattlers have performed like a group on a mission. After a strong showing in a 3-1 non-district loss to La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, Sharyland was dominant to begin district.
In their first five 31-5A matches, the Rattlers outscored their opponents 32-0, including a 10-0 win over crosstown rivals Sharyland Pioneer.
Perhaps Shary’s two seasons in the same district as perennial state power Valley View helped mold a stellar regular-season campaign. In those two years, the Tigers won all the head-to-head meetings, but twice the outcome was decided by just a goal, once requiring PKs.
“That’s top of Texas talent right there,” Tamez said. “Valley View is a machine of a team and we tied them in regular time. We saw what we can do it and it gave us hope for the future. Everyone was kind of brought up seeing those teams and playing against those teams.”
Team captain Alberto Martinez said that finishing on top of the district is a nice accomplishment, but only part of the mission.
As district reached the second time through, the opposition has played Sharyland High tighter most nights, but La Joya Palmview was the only team to snatch a win – in penalty kicks.
“I think it’s great to be able to win district. To be able to say that you’re the best team in the district is something special, especially if you haven’t done it in three years,” Martinez said. “Yeah, it’s a great achievement and we have to take it step-by-step but it feels great to know we’re the best in the district.”
Martinez and Tamez, however, have been a part of teams in the past two seasons that had to face tough 32-5A qualifiers. Two years ago they lost to Brownsville Lopez in the bi-district round, 2-0, and last year they fell to Brownsville Porter, 2-0, in the same round.
“I think we know that if we win district we can’t let that affect our mindset; that we’ve already won everything,” Martinez said. “We haven’t won anything yet, so I think as long as we keep our feet on the ground and stay humble…take things round by round, we shouldn’t have too many problems.”
The Rattlers will be matched up with the Brownsville-heavy district in the first round again. If the playoffs started today head coach Rev Hernandez’s team would face Brownsville Pace, which is in fourth place in District 32-5A with an 8-5 record.
Hernandez believes this year’s group has more toughness because of their age and experience.
“I think mentally they’re mature,” Rev Hernandez said. “I know we’ve had teams in the past, but we always had a mixture. Right now we have 11 seniors and it does make a lot of difference. Some of our guys don’t have a lot of size, but their bodies are mature and you can tell with their speed, the way they kick the ball and take control.”
Despite mentioning his team’s size, Sharyland is graced with a 6-foot-4-inch sweeper, Alejandro Castello, as the last line of defense before the keeper.
Tamez in net says that his team’s strong defense will become even more important as the games turn into single-elimination battles.
“For us, the defense has been a big thing all season, I think we’ve only allowed six goals,” Tamez said. “It’s all thanks to those guys. They understand their role and they’re proud of it. With them back there I feel like our team’s dominant. Teams haven’t been able to reach us and that’s going to be a really big key and factor when it comes to the playoff games.”