HIDALGO — The Hidalgo Pirates cruised through district play and their first-round playoff contest with ease, outscoring opponents 109-9 during that span.
Their second-round opponent, however, presented the Pirates with their toughest test to date, taking on District 31-4A champion Progreso in the Class 4A area round. The Red Ants entered the contest allowing just nine goals in 14 district games.
The Pirates passed the test with flying colors, with five different players scoring goals en route to a dominating 5-2 victory over the Red Ants on Wednesday at Tiger Stadium in Hidalgo.
The victory advances the Pirates to the Region IV-4A quarterfinal round for a third straight year. They’ll take on the Brownsville Jubilee Titans at a date, time and location to be determined.
“It is all about the boys,” Hidalgo head coach Esteban Alegria said. “They work hard every day. They deserve it. It is all about them.”
The Pirates wasted little time asserting their dominance on the pitch, taking a 1-0 lead just six minutes into the game on a goal by Erick Montoya.
Montoya’s score sparked an offensive outburst by the Pirates, who added another two goals before the break to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
Alfonso Velasquez netted the second goal of the game during the 28th minute off a crossing pass from Montoya, with senior captain Joaquin “Picho” Rosales adding the third during the 33rd off a long overhead pass from Rey Cantu.
“The boys had confidence in themselves,” Alegria said. “It is nothing different than it has been all year. The kids worked hard in practice, and it showed with how they trusted each other. We’re all brothers here. We’re family. The kids came in with a plan, and they executed the plan.”
The Pirates slowed the pace during the second half with the game well in hand. That didn’t stop Hidalgo from adding to the lead, with Cantu making it 4-0 with 17 minutes remaining.
The goal by the Valley’s leading scorer led to the Pirates emptying the bench, with Cantu and other starters leaving the game.
Progreso’s Sergio Blanco and Kevin Garcia added a goal each following the substitution, but it proved to be too late, with Alan Espinoza sealing the game with his score during the 71st minute.
Up next, the Pirates face off against their second straight district champion in the Titans. A victory will push them into the Region IV-5A semifinal round for a third straight year.
“We’re taking it one game at a time,” Alegria said. “We play on Friday or Saturday against Brownsville Jubilee. We expect nothing but the same result. Nothing is changing. I love these kids a ton. It is on to the next round and hopefully more.”
