Apaches advance to Region IV-4A quarterfinals

WIMBERLEY — It took an extra 20 minutes to get there but the Gonzales Apaches boys’ soccer team has reached the regional quarterfinals for the second year in a row, this time off a 2-1 victory over the Fredericksburg Billies.

Tied 1-1, with 8:46 left in the first half of extras, Gonzales senior Santiago Escoto collected a long pass from Mario Pizano and flipped it right over the Fredericksburg goalkeeper to give the Apaches the 2-1 lead and complete his path to redemption after missing a penalty kick midway through the second half of regulation.

“That tells a lot about his character and what kind of athlete he is,” Apaches’ head coach ] Greg Ramirez said of Escoto. “He doesn’t let [the missed PK] bother him. He is that kind of player. He is cool-headed and he will do what it takes to make it happen.”

The Apaches had to battle back down 1-0 as the Billies used a counter attack early in the game to strike first, just two minutes into the game.

“It was an error on our defense,” Ramirez noted. “It originated in the middle and then it went from there. That error was costly.”

The answer came in the 14th minute where Rogelio Sanchez took advantage of a rebound that was collected by the Billies. Sanchez blasted the shot from about 20 yards out to tie the game at 1-1.

Gonzales pushed on and with the quick feet of sophomore Anthony Veliz, the Apaches continued to take shots. Veliz, the 5-foot midfielder, won jump balls, found ways to retain possession and frustrated the Billies on his side of the field.

“He’s so aggressive, Anthony Veliz,” Ramirez said. “Today he was one of the best players this game. He is fast, he is little, but he can jump and he is aggressive. That’s the best thing about him, he plays with aggression.”

In the second half, Escoto had a shot at shifting the game back to the Apaches’ favor with a penalty kick that was rewarded with 27 minutes left in the game. Escoto’s shot sailed over the post as the senior forward fell to his knees in disbelief. The Billies would then take it down to the field and a forward shot that ball on target, but the defense of senior sweeper Jesus Guzman shined as he jumped in front of the shot for a key block.

“[Guzman’s] a sweeper, that’s his job,” Ramirez explained. “He has a big role [in this team]. Thank God he was there on that shot.”

Daniel Barrientos had some key saves as well to keep the score leveled headed to extras.

Despite close calls on both sides of the field, the next goal came in extras where Escoto flipped it over the goalkeeper to put the Apaches ahead in what would be the final score of 2-1.

The Apaches defense continued their dominance, not allowing another score in the second half of extras as Gonzales advanced to the regional quarterfinals for the second time in as many attempts.

Gonzales takes on Fischer Canyon Lake today in Yoakum, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the regional tournament in McAllen.