Three years after state championship, expectations remain the same for Pirates

HIDALGO — No one at Hidalgo will ever forget the Pirates’ 2009 soccer state championship.

Even those who weren’t on that team describe the aftermath that came with bringing the first-ever Class 4A title to South Texas.

“They tell us that we’ve been champions before and (we need) to still have that winning mentality,” said Pirates sophomore forward Daniel Martinez following the Pirates’ 3-0 group-stage win over the Mercedes Tigers at the Hidalgo/Valley View soccer tournament on Thursday at Bill Pate Stadium.

The expectations were high then, and almost three years later, they remain the same for the Pirates, who won that 4A state title despite a 3A enrollment.

 “The expectations are always the same here at Hidalgo. We have to be at the top of the list,” sixth-year Pirates coach Zeke Morales said. “We set the bar back in 2009 and 2007 where we reached state semifinals as well. For my program and any program, we want to make sure that we create good people first. We create good students and good athletes. You can never go wrong when you’re teaching these kids values.”

Pirates midfielder Yeison Nava was just a freshman when the Pirates beat Mesquite Poteet 2-0 in the 2009 Class 4A state final. Now a senior, Nava wants to bring the school another championship but doesn’t feel pressured.

“Honestly no, I think that (Morales) is a great coach and keeps us relaxed,” Nava said. “I remember that it was a team with great players, but everything changes.

“They played well, they were also good students. One thing that we learned from them is to be good people on and off the field.”

The lone remaining player from the championship squad is senior forward Juan Rivera. Morales declined a request to interview Rivera.

But in his first varsity season, Martinez alluded to Rivera, one of the nine returning players from last year’s District 63-4A third-place Pirates, and the team’s seniority as a key factor for the Pirates’ aspirations this year.

 “We have 10 seniors that will help us a lot,” Martinez said. “(Rivera) is the only one left from the state championship. He’s a great captain and up front he does his job well.”

Martinez, Rivera and Nava all scored in Hidalgo’s win over Mercedes, where it dominated throughout the game featuring two 20-minute halves.

Despite the team’s differences in personnel, Morales sees some correlation to the ’09 team and this year’s team.

“As far as talent goes, I think I have a lot of talent just like I did back then. As far as the season goes, we’re starting the same,” Morales said. “Last time we won state we ended third in our district.

“We’re working a lot on character and that’s brewing. Like anyone will tell you, you have to build group chemistry and them understanding what we want from them.”