High School teams enjoy inaugural Copa TSC soccer tournament

The Cowboys won the inaugural Copa TSC Hispanic Heritage Month boys soccer tournament on Oct. 1, 2016.

The Cowboys and Lady Rattlers emerged the victors of the inaugural Copa TSC Hispanic Heritage Month boys and girls soccer tournaments on Oct. 1 and 8, respectively.

The Lady Rattlers were crowned champions of the Copa TSC Hispanic Heritage Month girls soccer tournament on Oct. 8, 2016.

In a rematch of the first-round boys tournament opener, the Cowboys defeated the Chargers 4-1 in the championship match to claim the boys Copa TSC title.

“The organization of the tournament and the fields were great. The level of competition was tough, but we had a lot of fun,” Cowboys forward Alexis Armendariz said. “These type of tournaments help us prepare for the season. They (Chargers) beat us in the first round, but we put it in our minds that if we faced them again we wouldn’t let that happen a second time, and we won.”

The Cowboys finished the tournament with a 4-1 overall record. After losing the opening match to the Chargers 4-3, the Cowboys won their remaining first-round games and knocked out the Eagles in the semifinals to set up a rematch against the Chargers in the final.

On the girl’s side, the undefeated Rattlers (5-0) outlasted the Falcons 3-2 to win the inaugural girls Copa TSC championship match. The Falcons finished the tournament with a 4-1 record.

“It was a tough and aggressive match, they (Los Fresnos) were very competitive,” Rattlers forward Isabella Marinaro said. “We have great team chemistry and without that I don’t think our passing would work. Playing at TSC for the inaugural Copa is a great start to our new season.”

In the girls semifinals, the Rattlers defeated the Vikings 5-1 and the Falcons soared past the Eagles 4-0 to advance to the title game.
“The two Copa TSC tournaments were very exciting and they helped us celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month,” TSC Recreation Center Director Vicenta Fernandez said. “Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and it’s very big here in the Valley, especially in Brownsville. The tournaments brought in a big group of high school students to visit the TSC campus and they really enjoyed it. We hope to see these students join the TSC family in the future and continue their academic careers with us.”

While at the tournament, the teams had the opportunity to get acquainted with TSC’s unique campus and become familiar with the first-class recreational facilities offered by the college.

About Texas Southmost College
Originally established in 1926, Texas Southmost College currently offers the first two years toward a bachelor’s degree, along with career and technical education leading to certificates and associate degrees, college preparatory studies to prepare students for college-level work, workforce training, and continuing education. Recently selected as a Bright Spot by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, TSC offers 53 programs of study leading to an associate degree or certificate.