HIDALGO — The Hidalgo Pirates are well aware of the dominance of Boerne High. The Greyhounds have dominated Class 4A the past two seasons, winning back-to-back state championships.
The Pirates stood in the way of the Greyhounds during their path to one state title, with Boerne dominating Hidalgo 7-0 in the 2021 Region IV-4A final before marching on to the championship.
The two teams squared off on the pitch once again Saturday, with the 16th Annual Copa La Frontera championship on the line.
Led by three second half goals, Hidalgo sent a message to the Greyhounds and the rest of Class 4A, taking downing the reigning back-to-back state champs 3-0 at Bill Pate Stadium in Hidalgo.
“This game is one of those that is a motivation booster,” Hidalgo head coach Zeke Morales said. “It tells our kids that we can compete with those kids from up there. It tells us that we can compete with a team like Boerne, who has won back-to-back state titles. They’re a very aggressive and physical team that plays very direct football. It is a different type of soccer than you see in the Valley. It means a lot to us because our kids start to believe. Once they start to believe things start to happen.”
The potential regional final preview had the makings of a postseason contest from the start, with fans from both sides vocal and electric as if the state title was on the line.
The play on the field matched the electricity in the stands, with the Greyhounds and Pirates playing to a physical 0-0 draw at the break.
The Pirates flipped a switch during the second half, however, wasting no time to get on the board on a long curving shot by Eder Hernandez just one minute in.
Ailton Cardenas added the Pirates lead nine minutes later, corralling a crossing pass inside the box and tapping it in to make it 2-0.
The goal led to the unraveling of the Greyhounds, committing costly errors. None was bigger than a foul inside the box with two minutes remaining, leading to a penalty kick for the Pirates.
Hidalgo’s Joaquin “Picho” Rosales converted the penalty attempt to put the final nail in the Pirates 3-0 victory. Rosales performance during the tournament earned him the offensive MVP award.
“I don’t have words for the win today,” Rosales said. “I have a lot of respect for Boerne. There is a reason they’re two-time state champions, but I believe we’ve put in a lot of work this offseason. Today was a reward of that. We finished as champs here and I think the state champion is going to change this year. If God is with us and wants us to, I think it is going to change.”
The Pirates’ offensive showing was matched by a solid defensive effort, keeping the Greyhounds’ shot attempts to a minimal.
Reigning 32-4A Defensive Player of the Year Gabriel Ordonez anchored the back end, earning him the tournament’s Defensive MVP honors.
“You need to have leaders like Gabriel (Ordonez) and Joaquin (Rosales) in your program,” Morales said. “Those two are humble kids and some of the hardest working kids in the program. They’re stepping up when they need to. I’m just happy they have a great attitude. I just hope it becomes contagious and it starts to gravitate towards it. I think if they do that we will have a great season.”
The Pirates will look to carry momentum from their tournament win into the start of district play Tuesday. They’ll open up against Pharr IDEA at 6 p.m. at Bill Pate Stadium in Hidalgo.
