BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
PHARR — The top teams in RGV 5A boys soccer, and arguably in the entire valley, Valley View and Brownsville Veterans faced off for the second time this season and the first time on the Tiger’s blue turf in South Pharr.
Both teams scored once in the first 40 minutes, but Valley View scored twice in second half to pull away and emerge victorious, 3-1 score Tuesday night. The Tigers hold a game edge in the District 32-5A standings.
Valley View improves to 10-1 with its only loss coming Feb. 5 in Brownsville against the same Chargers. Vets is now 9-2 with a loss to Brownsville Lopez in the first round of district.
“It’s a challenge for us and we like the challenge,” Tigers senior Jorge Amaya said. “We know how to keep ourselves under pressure, it’s the key for us.”
After the game, Valley View was complimentary of their Tuesday opponents, the Brownsville Veterans Chargers.
“We knew what they had, we saw them in regionals and we knew what they could do with the ball,” Valley View coach Damian Magallan said through a translator. “Our key players gave us the win.”
Even though the Tigers respected their opponents, they knew they had to be the aggressors early because two early goals against factored into the road loss a month ago.
Just four minutes into the game the Tigers gave their crowd a reason to cheer.
Amaya served up a corner kick pass to freshman Pablo Torre who was able to put Valley View in front early.
Any signs of Chargers offensive pressure was hard to come by in the game’s first 10 to 15 minutes but once Veterans was able to utilize their counterattacking speed, the chances followed.
As the clock passed the midway point, Albert Maradiaga, who scored both goals in the first meeting, put his head to a centering pass and into top section of the net.
With 2:20 left in the first half, the road Chargers nearly stunned the Tigers by taking a halftime lead when Mark Boswell was alone after a through pass. Boswell was only able poke his leg while sliding and Valley View’s Joaquin Ramirez in goal made the save.
Magallan gave his team an earful at the half but the Tigers were better for it. The 2018 regional champions, victors over Veterans in last year’s regional final, came out strong after the break.
“We just played our game,” Amaya said. “We’re used to scoring three or more goals every game so we don’t fall under pressure by allowing a goal. We just play our game and our style and move up from that moment.”
While Chargers’ chances were much less frequent, reliable saves by Ramirez was a jolt of reassurance for sweeper Adrian Rodriguez and the team in front of him.
Magallan said his key players gave him a boost, but on a team that has only lost twice in the past two seasons there are vital pieces all over the pitch. Christopher Flores, who had a first-half yellow card was tough to bump off the ball and played a physical game with his frame.
Chippy play nearly boiled over when Valley View’s Christopher Flores sprinted midfield toward the Chargers net. The player pursuing him hit the turf on an apparent hand to the face but no call was made. At the next stoppage, arguing resulted in a Veterans’ yellow card and minutes of litigation.
Minutes later Flores made a run with the ball down the right side of the field before sending a centering pass that was in the perfect spot for Rogelio Saldivar to head home the go-head tally.
Another Valley View freshman, Aner Gonzalez, scored to ice the win. He had two early chances in the first half and was finally rewarded when he followed up an Amaya shot that the Veterans’ keeper couldn’t initially collect.
Gonzalez, who was noticeable all night, said he was happy to get on the scoresheet after a number of close calls.
“I felt a little bit relaxed because in the other games I couldn’t score the goals and I was a little frustrated,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez, who is one of a select group of freshman making a quick impact with the experienced team, said he’s honored to be a part of the tradition at the high school.
“I am very proud to be on this team, all the history they have,” Gonzalez said. “We went to a tournament in Houston and everyone was talking about us, it’s a really cool feeling.”
Valley View will face Edcouch-Elsa, Brownsville Pace and Donna High before beginning its playoff journey as the Tigers try to reach the state tournament in Georgetown for a second straight season.