By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Just how high is the standard of success for Brownsville boys soccer?
Well, it’s quite high these days.
If a Brownsville team doesn’t qualify for the UIL state tournament, it’s pretty much viewed as something not quite up to par. That’s understandable considering four different Brownsville schools now have advanced to state in five years. There was Porter in 2011, Hanna in 2013, Lopez in 2014, and this season, it’s Rivera’s turn.
Raiders coach Salvador Garcia believes it is his team’s time to shine.
“(Coming so close but not getting to state) the last three years, it’s been disappointing for a lot of people, including myself,” said Garcia, now in his 18th season leading the Raiders with a 363-101-49 career record. “But I believe God’s timing is always right. He’s never late, He’s never early.
“Since the beginning of the season, my wife has been asking me why I believe it (so strongly) when I say that we’re going to win it all this year,” Garcia added. “For the first time in many years, this is the first time I’ve felt this way. I really believe we are a team of destiny.”
The District 32-6A champion Raiders (26-0) embark on the final leg of their journey to see if they can fulfill what they and their coaches believe they can achieve when they play District 10-6A co-champion North Mesquite (22-3-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Class 6A semifinals at Georgetown ISD’s Birkelbach Field.
A victory Friday sends Rivera to the 6A state final against Katy Cinco Ranch (21-0-4) or Arlington Sam Houston (23-2-2) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
“It’s great because we’ve gotten the ticket that allows us to go to state (having won last weekend’s Region IV-6A Tournament),” said Isidro “Chelin” Martinez, a senior attacking midfielder for the Raiders. “We’re one step closer. We’re motivated and focused on our goal.
“It’s like any other game for us,” he added. “We’re going to play it as a final and take things one game at a time. Hopefully we can get that first win at state and move on to accomplish our unfinished business.”
Rivera, which has outscored opponents 131-23 and averaged more than five goals per game this season, is led on the offensive end by forward Eliseo Ortiz (26 goals), Martinez (22) and forward Alexis Herrera (21). All three are seniors.
“God willing, if we can do what we’ve been doing all season, we’re going to complete our dream,” Ortiz said.
Added Herrera, “I’m pretty proud of how we’ve been playing on defense, in the midfield and at forward. It’s everybody. We’re getting closer to (the state final on) April 18.”
The Raiders will be going up against a North Mesquite team that like Rivera is advancing to state for the third time. The Stallions previously went to state in 1986 and 1987. Rivera advanced in 2005 and 2007, losing in the state semifinals both times.
North Mesquite boasts a senior-laden team with a strong defense led by senior goalkeeper Luis Reyes, selected goalkeeper of the year in his district last season. The Stallions have recorded 16 shutouts on the season and have outscored opponents 8-1 in five playoff games, including a 2-0 victory against Austin Lake Travis in the Region II-6A Tournament final Saturday in Round Rock. The Stallions have a number of players who can score, including experienced seniors Juan Gonzalez and Abraham Vasquez.
Lake Travis serves as the only common opponent between the Raiders and Stallions this season. Rivera defeated Lake Travis 3-2 at The Woodlands Boys Kilt Tournament back in January during the opening weekend of the 2015 season.
Garcia is telling his team to be prepared to play its best soccer of the year in Georgetown.
“We feel blessed to have another chance at state,” he said. “They say the third time is a charm, and we’ll see if that’s true with us. It’s an honor for us to still be playing and to represent our school, our community and the Valley. The Valley has been doing well the past few years at state, and hopefully this weekend can be the same.
“The four (6A boys) teams at state all have the same chance,” he added. “Rankings don’t matter, where we’re coming from doesn’t matter and the district doesn’t matter, either. There are no underdogs at this point. Everybody’s good. Yeah, we don’t know much about North Mesquite, but we know they’re good because they beat Lake Travis 2-0, and that means something.
“When we pray, we always ask God not for an easy path, but to help us get over whatever obstacle there is in our path, and that’s all we can do. We have faith in each other, faith in our system and faith in the way we play our style of soccer. If we stay true to those things, we should be OK.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.