By ROY HESS | STAFF WRITER
SJA (6-0. 3-0 TAPPS) won 3-2 on penalty kicks against Antonian on Friday and edged the Apaches 1-0 on Saturday.
“This is the first time we’ve been in a (TAPPS) district in four years (of playing soccer),” Bloodhounds coach Tino Villarreal said. “These are huge wins for us considering (San Antonio) Central Catholic won state last year, and Antonian split (district) games with them. It’s a very tough district.
“We would have been happy with a split with Antonian,” Villarreal added. “Coming out with two wins against them this weekend adds a lot of maturity to our young team. It gives us more confidence.”
The Bloodhounds continue district play Jan. 3 against Central Catholic in San Antonio.
On Friday, Gerardo Moses and Jose Kauachi scored goals during regulation for the Bloodhounds. After 20 minutes of scoreless overtime, the match went to penalties tied at 2.
SJA won the penalties as Bloodhounds goalkeeper Mario Ramirez blocked the try of Antonian’s fifth player and SJA’s Andres Rico followed with the game-winning goal.
On Saturday, Mario Garcia tallied the match’s lone goal just one minute into the second half to lift the Bloodhounds to victory.
Villarreal said additional standouts on the weekend for the Bloodhounds included Gerardo Elizondo at center midfielder and Rodrigo Salinas, a central defender and team captain.