| REPORTER | |
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Kristopher Rivera |
San Elizario, the small, historic community southeast of El Paso nestled on the Rio Grande, is embracing its high school boys soccer team.
The team made its own history by soaring its way to the top of the Class 4A state soccer playoffs.
Today, the Eagles (17-4-3) play for the Class 4A state championship against Liberty Hill (22-5) at 1:30 p.m. in Birkelbach Field at Georgetown.
“Coaches only dream about being in a position that they’re in right now. It’s amazing that not only has our boys cross country team won a state championship, but we have a possibility of having a soccer state championship. It’s been surreal,” said San Elizario Independent School District Athletics Director Peter Morales.
The community, known for its historic presidio, chapel, placita and famous jail, was blown away when San Elizario dismantled powerhouse Kilgore 5-1 in Wednesday’s semifinal match.
“We’re a high quality program that people have to play,” San Elizario coach Max Sappenfield said.
The Eagles, and their eyebrow-raising performance, have become the talk around the town of about 13,000. The familiar Eagles logo was on television screens across the city.
“The area is small. We don’t have a lot of resources. We’re kind of isolated out here, but the kids are doing such a good job in bringing positive attention,” said San Elizario High School Principal Maribel Guillen.
San Elizario has found its niche in soccer and created a program on its way to having a rich tradition like that of Del Valle High School.
“If you drive around San Eli you’ll see kids playing soccer out in the street, the parks … we’re a soccer town,” Guillen said.
This season, the Eagles did well against District 1-6A teams. They had victories over Montwood and Americas and tied Coronado and Eastwood.
In the playoffs, the Eagles plowed through Brownwood, Stephenville, Gainesville, Dallas Life Oak Cliff and Kilgore.
This monumental season comes to its last stop against a very good Liberty Hill team.
“(Liberty Hill) they’re tall kids, very strong and motivated to win,” Sappenfield said. “We know they’ve earned their way to a championship game and we know we’re going to have to play very, very well to beat them.”
Junior forward Edwin Marquez, who scored three goals against Kilgore, said, “We’re very happy and so excited for the game. We’re ready for it.”
San Elizario Mayor Maya Sanchez, who grew up in the town in the 1980s, is happy to see a sense of community and pride grow.
“Whatever happens (today), I truly do see it as an historical event in our recent history,” said Sanchez, whose family goes back five generations in the community. “These boys definitely do us proud.”
The Eagles are the only El Paso area school in the soccer finals. Horizon lost to Georgetown East View 4-2 in its Class 5A state semifinal match Thursday.
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Title match:
What: Class 4A High School Boys State Soccer Championship
Who: San Elizario (17-4-3) vs. Liberty Hill (22-5)
When: 1:30 p.m. MST Today
Where: Birkelbach Field in Georgetown, Texas
Viewing party: San Elizario High School, 13981 Socorro. People can stream the game live with a subscription on nfhsnetwork.com/associations/uil or can follow @SanElizarioISD on Twitter for live updates.
