McALLEN — Momentum seemed to have shifted to the Hidalgo Pirates’ favor with five minutes left during their regional semifinal against the Taylor Ducks.
After struggling to find paydirt on multiple shot attempts, the Pirates finally converted a shot, with Ailton Cardenas locating a loose ball inside the box and tapping it into the net for a tie.
Two minutes later, disaster struck.
After not allowing a goal this postseason, the Pirates’ defense surrendered their second goal of the match during the 78th minute, with Taylor’s Ezekial Tellez drilling the game-winning score to end the Pirates’ season 2-1 during the Region IV-4A semifinals Friday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“I feel a bit down because we had a great team,” Hidalgo forward Rey Cantu said. “But I know we’re going to come back strong. The game today was for us to win. We just kept missing and missing. That’s soccer, though. When it’s not going in, it’s not going on. That’s the card we were dealt. It leaves a sour taste in our mouths because we knew we had the team to win state but I know we’re going to come back stronger.”
Hidalgo’s season ends with a 12-0 mark during district play, before advancing to the regional semifinals for a second straight year. The Ducks move on to the Region IV-4A finals next Friday, taking on the Boerne Greyhounds at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Trailing the Ducks 1-0 late during the final period, the Pirates pushed the ball downfield looking for the equalizer. Hidalgo’s Joaquin “Picho” Rosales appeared to have tied the game during the 71st minute, heading a ball into the back of the net off a long pass from Rey Treviño, but the score was negated by an offsides call.
Hidalgo tied the game moments later on an errant shot by Cantu, which rolled past the defense and directly to Cardenas for the equalizer. The lead was short-lived, however, with the Ducks scoring late to end the Pirates’ state championship hunt.
The Pirates outshot the Ducks 31-6, while also earning six more corner kicks. Still, the Pirates struggled to get points on the board after being held to one score just twice during district play.
“I’m leaving the game with our head up high because I think we’re the better team,” Hidalgo head coach Zeke Morales said. “We had more shots on goals and more corner kicks. But this is how it is. That’s why winning a state title is a combination of talent, work and luck.”
