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PHARR, Texas - The 15-week odyssey for the inaugural South Texas Premier Soccer Association’s 18-and-Under Summer League title ended Saturday when the Tigers defeated Mission 2-0 in the championship match at San Juan Municipal Park.
Emanuel Vázquez (4’) and Rigoberto “Totti” Hernández (39’) scored the goals that gave the Tigers the league championship, while defender Israel Lince and goalkeeper Javier Olvera were key to containing the aggressive Mission attack.
"It feels good to score a goal and help my team win the championship," said Hernández, who scored the second goal for the Tigers. "We all made an effort. The game was tough and thanks to God we came out with the victory. We’re ready to defend the championship next season and give it our all all season so we can keep growing as a team so we can also win the state championship."
The Tigers finished the regular season as the runnerup and accumulated a 9-1-2 overall record for 28 points. They also had the best defense in the league and gave up only six goals in 10 regular-season games, seven overall, including the postseason.
Meanwhile, Mission closed out the season with a 7-1-4 overall record for 22 points. Mission ended the regular season in fourth place and surprised the league-leading Rattlers 1-0 in the semifinals to advance to the championship match.
Emanuel Vázquez put the Tigers up 1-0 on an early goal that surprised Mission in just the fourth minute of play. However, Mission was more aggressive over the course of the game, but the Tigers’ defense and netminder saved the team on several occasions.
One minute before the end of the first half, Tigers striker Rigoberto "Totti" Hernández nailed the second goal of the game that took a crazy bounce in the goal area and looped over the outstretched arms of the Mission keeper to seal the Tigers win and the league title.
"Working with these kids has been a pleasure," said Tigers head coach Manuel Lince, who also was an assistant coach for the league’s All-Star team. "They preferred to play soccer instead of taking vacation and they obtained the results, the objectives were met and having been able to participate with the All-Star team was a really nice experience that I hope we can repeat. Our mentality is to have the best defense again, and this time also the best offense and to defend the championship."
In the third place match, the Rattlers defeated La Joya 2-1 with goals by Cristian Yáñez (6’) and Julio Gutiérrez (67’). Ernesto Huerta cut La Joya’s deficit to one goal in the 68th minute.
"We gave it everything we had this season and next season we’re going to do our best and we’re going to take first place," said Rattlers striker and league co-goalscoring champion Daniel García.
The Rattlers finished out the regular season as the league leader and notched an overall record of 9-1-2 for 28 points. During the regular season, they were the most offensive team of the league, scoring 32 goals in 10 games, including the playoffs.
"It was tough, it wasn’t easy. Coming into this tournament, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy," said Rattlers defender and co-captain Gilberto “Tito” Alanis. "But next season is going to be different, we’re going for it all. The league helped us a lot. We didn’t stay at home over the summer and just laid around. Instead, we were out here working hard and preparing ourselves for the upcoming seasons."
La Joya concluded the season with a 6-2-4 overall mark for 20 points. In the regular season, the La Joya squad finished in third place.
After the third place game and the championship match, the STXPSA held a brief ceremony to present the corresponding trophies and special awards to the teams and players that participated in the finals.
"It was truly a great championship final. Both teams gave it their all and the Tigers are a good champion representative of the league," said STXPSA co-organizer Miguel Puente. "We saw a good level of soccer in the playoffs and in the final match. It was a successful season for everyone involved. This project for players 18-and-Under was well-received and we’re anxious to start the Fall League in September."
The STXPSA will continue with an 18-U Fall League. It is scheduled tentatively to start on Sept. 10 at San Juan Municipal Park.
For more information about the league or Fall League registrations, call (956) 212-5750.
