Although Saturday afternoon didn’t end with a Rockdale victory, the Tiger soccer team didn’t hang their head after a 2-1 loss to Giddings, the top team in District 19-4A.
“If we come out and play Smithville and Caldwell the way we played today, there’s no way we will lose,” said coach Gilberto Rodriguez after Saturday’s game at Tiger Stadium.
The match was close with the Buffaloes up 1-0 for much of it. Giddings made things difficult for the Tigers with a goal with 12:16 seconds left, going up 2-0.
RHS didn’t back down with a Tiger break down the field leading to a goal from Enrique Rivera on the left side to make it 2-1 with 9:25 to go.
The undefeated GHS held on to win the match, but the Tigers felt anything but defeated afterwards.
“The boys played hard,” Rodriguez said. “Ever since that Smithville loss (Feb. 23), I’ve been telling them that they lost because they don’t play hard from the start.
“But we played hard from the beginning all the way to the end and it showed today.”
The Tigers faced Caldwell at home on senior night but look to avenge their loss in Smithville Friday evening. The Big Blue will be with out Rivera, who is quarantining, and starter Jorge Salazar, out with a possible concussion.
Friday’s match isn’t only an opportunity to seek revenge for Rockdale but a chance to ensure a spot in the post-season.
According to Rodriguez, Giddings, La Grange and Smithville have all clinched a playoff berth, and Rockdale is fighting with Cameron for the fourth seed.
In soccer, a tie-breaker in the standings comes down to a secondary point system that rewards teams with wins in regulation. A tie during regulation doesn’t award either team with points.
As of Tuesday morning, RHS has 11 with two games left and Cameron has 14 with one game left against Hearne Friday.
If Rockdale loses to Smithville. Hearne needs to beat Cameron in regular time to get the final spot.
LADY TIGERS—The girls in blue faced Cameron on Friday night, falling to the Lady Yoe 4-0.
They play in their season finale at 5:15 p.m. Friday in Smithville.
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