Sharyland could be without three starters vs. San Antonio Clark

SAN ANTONIO — Ordinarily worrying about the expediency of air travel during the holiday season doesn’t have an effect on high school sports. Unfortunately for the Sharyland Rattlers, that is not the case as they prepare for today’s 4:30 p.m. match against San Antonio Clark in the Region IV-5A semifinals.

The Rattlers (27-1-2) have more than Clark (20-1-2) to be concerned about as three of their top players — Alex de la Garza, Rene Peña and Jose Gonzalez — will be playing in a 1:30 p.m. match for the Houston Dynamo’s South Texas Academy team in the Dallas Cup, approximately a one-hour flight from San Antonio.

Doing the math, in a best-case scenario Sharyland can possibly expect the trio to be available for the second half against Clark. A similar situtation played out before Tuesday’s match against Brownsville Lopez, but de la Garza, Peña and Gonzalez only missed pre-game warm-ups and the first few minutes of action.

Rattlers coach Reveriano Hernandez tried to hide any concern he might have, but it’s likely safe to say he’s not the biggest Houston Dynamo fan at the moment.

“They’re starters, but we did the same thing against Lopez. They missed some minutes because they got there late,” he said. “Hopefully they’ll get back for the game.”

The Rattlers are riding a 12-game winning streak heading into today’s match, including the aforementioned 1-0 victory over 2009 Class 5A state runner up Lopez on the Brownsville school’s campus. Peña’s goal in the 74th minute off a throw-in by Ricky Mata was the difference.

But while the victory over Lopez was impressive in itself, Hernandez insists his team isn’t satisfied with just advancing to the regional tournament.

“No, no, no. We want more. Hopefully it’s not the end of the road for us,” he said.

Clark, meanwhile, has won 10 straight and is coming off a 1-0 shootout victory over Austin Bowie. And like Sharyland, Clark is making its first appearance in the regional semifinals.

Hernandez says his team, which in addition to defeating Lopez has eliminated Del Rio and Brownsville Porter in the postseason while compiling an 11-3 goal differential, is ready for the Clark challenge. The winner faces the survivor of today’s other IV-5A semifinal between Laredo United and Austin Westlake for the regional championship Saturday and a trip to state.

“They’re ready to play,” Hernandez said of his squad. “I think it’s just the beginning for us. We’ve been having pretty good games lately up to this level. The kids know they don’t want to go home yet. They want to keep playing.”

While Sharyland and Clark do battle this afternoon, a little later today an all-Valley regional semifinal takes place in Corpus Christi. District 61-4A rivals La Joya Juarez-Lincoln and Roma are pitted in a Region IV-4A semifinal match that begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Cabaniss Sports Complex.

Juarez-Lincoln (20-3-5) is 1-0-1 against Roma this season. The Huskies have also been among the most impressive teams in the postseason, compiling a 13-1 goal differential, including a 5-0 thrashing of Corpus Christi Moody to advance to Corpus. Luis Guerra scored twice against the Trojans, while Jose Zamora, Juan Montes and Delber Rivera also netted goals.

Roma coach Joe Cortez, who feels his team is peaking after Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Laredo LBJ, understands the challenge Juarez-Lincoln presents tonight.

“We’re going to have to play probably one of our best games ever and just stay focused and not get rattled,” he said. “Even if they do score first, we just have to stay focused and keep battling until the last minute.”

The Gladiators (16-5-2) are led by midfielder/forward Hector Rios (eight goals), last year’s 61-4A MVP and the frontrunner for this year’s award. Irvin De Leon and Oscar Pompa fortify Roma’s defense.

The winner between Juarez-Lincoln and Roma advances to the Region IV-4A final at 3 p.m. Saturday against either San Antonio Alamo Heights or Dripping Springs.