Texas Border Business
RICHARDSON, Texas – The 10th ranked Texas Southmost College Scorpions men’s soccer club stunned No. 1-ranked Texas Tech 2-0 in true David and Goliath fashion at the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Region IV South Tournament championship October 27, 2019, at the University of Texas-Dallas Soccer Complex.
TSC is the only community college that qualified for the men’s regional tournament and that is ranked in the Top 10. The Scorpions men’s soccer club is also completely comprised of Rio Grande Valley soccer talent, including the club’s head coach Mario Zamora, who also coaches Brownsville Pace.
“The players showed what they are capable of doing,” said Mario Zamora, Scorpions men’s soccer club head coach. “We faced a physically strong opponent that handled the ball well. Our team knew how to control the game and took advantage of our scoring opportunities, and our defense was impeccable. We appreciate all the support of the TSC Board of Trustees, TSC President Jesús Roberto Rodríguez, my family and everyone in the community.”
TSC’s midfielder Alberto Huerta and forward José “Chevy” Echavarria, graduates of Brownsville Hanna and Brownsville López, respectively, scored the game-winning goals against Texas Tech that gave the Scorpions one of two bids to the NIRSA Championship Series National Soccer Championships in Round Rock Nov. 20-23.
“It was a big win for us as a team, for Texas Southmost College and the whole community that always supports us,” said Echavarria. “We accomplished another one of our objectives of the season, which was to qualify to nationals. Now, it’s time for us to get to work on accomplishing our third objective and represent TSC, Brownsville and the entire Rio Grande Valley by competing at the national tournament, and God-willing bringing home a national championship.”
After a scoreless first half, Huerta put the Scorpions on the board in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
Echavarria added an insurance goal in the 62nd minute to seal TSC’s 2-nil victory and a trip to the national tournament.
Meanwhile, the Scorpions defense stopped a potent and physical Texas Tech squad that had their fair share of scoring opportunities, However, TSC’s stingy defense denied the Red Raiders time and again from finding the back of the net.
“We did what we had to do, we went out onto the field with a positive mentality and totally concentrated on the game and the teams we were playing against,” said Scorpions defender Uriel Rodríguez, a Brownsville Porter graduate. “We made a few mistakes, but we knew how to handle the situation calmly. On offense, we had some missed opportunities, but we knew how to attack them and finish the plays. I’m very proud to be a part of this team because we’re united. When push comes to shove, we fight back and give all our effort to accomplish one objective: win.”
In the semifinals, the Scorpions defeated Southern Methodist University in a dramatic 8-7 penalty kick series (9-8 aggregate) after playing to a 1-all draw in regulation. TSC goalkeeper Andrew Flores was in-goal for the Scorpions in the PK series against the Mustangs and forward José Pardillo tallied the game-winning penalty kick. Flores is a graduate of Brownsville Lopez and Pardillo graduated from Brownsville Porter.
The regional tournament was scheduled to begin October 25 but was postponed two days due to inclement weather and wet field conditions.
For more Information about the Scorpions men’s soccer club at TSC, call (956) 295-3709.
 Region IV South Tournament championship October 27, 2019, at the University of Texas-Dallas Soccer Complex.){kind=link}