TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
MISSION — The 2016 Mission Eagles Soccer Invitational may have just been a launch pad to the UIL soccer tournament.
Hyperbole?
Not when you consider that university-ready talent permeated throughout, previous state champs were in the bracket and the non-Valley schools were an afterthought.
Mission Invitational finalists Sharyland High and La Joya Juarez-Lincoln both harbor dreams of holding up UIL gold, but Saturday night it was the Rattlers who were crowned champions with a dominant 3-1 win over the Huskies.
Forward Paul Castañeda scored two first-half goals and Edson Silva added one more in the second half to cement the victory for the Sharyland Rattlers. The Juarez-Lincoln Huskies scored a goal late, but they were never close in the finale – although they beat the Rattlers 1-0 earlier in the tournament
“Every game we go 100 percent good or bad, and give it our all. And not just me, the whole team,” said Castañeda. “They (Huskies) are a very good team, and we knew what we were getting into. We wanted to get our revenge. We talked about it. We knew their weaknesses, and we capitalized on them.”
Sharyland’s offensive pressure was relentless especially in the first half. It forced Juarez-Lincoln into several mistakes – including Castañeda’s first goal which came off a defensive mix up about 25 yards out from goal at the 16-minute mark. With the ball loose between three defenders and the goalie up in the box, Castañeda pounced on it, and lofted the ball over the goalie smack into the net.
His second goal was more a matter of hustle, splitting defenders on the left wing and sending a sizzler to the bottom of the goal with 8:37 left in the 20-minute half. The Rattlers’ last goal was Silva’s from center about 15 yards out with 2:37 remaining. It was made possible by a beautiful centering service ball from Mark Stephens.
Sharyland Coach Rev Hernandez said both teams were evenly matched and the game was closer than the score indicated.
“The only difference was we were able to put them (goals) in in this one,” said Hernandez. “It was a very even game and that (Juarez-Lincoln) is an excellent team.”
He added that earning the trophy achieved a goal, and the team enters district play in a very positive frame of mind.
Juarez-Lincoln Coach Victor Ramos, despite losing the finale, was in a very similar frame of mind.
“The kids played well against very talented teams in key games against teams with different styles,” said Ramos, who sat five starters in the title game because of injury or fatigue. He said the players would be ready for district, and they were looking to achieve much more.
Players and coaches on both sides said while this tournament was important, bigger goals lay ahead – such as making it to the state championship. And they just might.
Both, the class 5A Rattlers and the class 6A Huskies, can win state championships in their respective divisions, and Valley teams have proven history at state. Those who were in Mission to watch the tournament title game may have gotten an early preview of what’s to come.