Longhorns convert prediction into reality
Edwin Saldivar was told he never would play again.
A player fell on the senior last summer, rupturing his intestine, and his doctor said the necessary removal of 16 inches of intestine would permanently damage his abdominals, ending his career.
Instead, he’s part of Dobie’s first state qualifier — just as coach Justo Manrique predicted.
Bryan Nava and Israel Perez scored in regulation, and goalkeeper Ramon Cahue stopped Channelview’s final shootout attempt, lifting the Longhorns to a 7-6 shootout victory after the teams played to a 2-2 tie Saturday at Abshier Stadium.
“The day I got here, I told the freshmen at an indoor game, one of you is going to come with me to state,” Manrique said. “(Saldivar) was the only incoming freshman who was playing with me.” On to Georgetown
Now Manrique and his midfielder are heading to Georgetown with the rest of the Class 6A Region III boys soccer champions. The state tournament runs April 12-15 at Birkelbach Field.
Channelview, which won a shootout with Cypress Ridge in Friday’s semifinals, ends its breakthrough year 18-2-4.
Saldivar said a second doctor used a new procedure to save him. He was left with a nasty six-inch scar on his abdomen — but with his playing days at Dobie (19-24) intact.
“They told me I was going to miss at least six months,” Saldivar said. “(But) I played every game, coming from nothing — not being able to move or walk — so this is a dream come true.”
Saldivar’s brother, Hector, was part of Dobie’s first regional finalist in 2011.
Edwin, who converted Dobie’s first penalty kick, is a part of the school’s first state-bound team after Cahue stopped freshman Efren Perez’s attempt on Channelview’s eighth kick in the shootout.
“We believed in (Cahue) since day one,” Edwin said. “We had no doubts.”
Ivan Diaz, Raul Hernandez, Sabino Lozano, Alejandro Flores, Alberto Chavez and Illsen Urrutia also converted.
Chavez’s goal was on a rekick after the Falcons keeper stepped off his line.
“This penalty shootout was a nightmare,” Manrique said. “Channelview was the greatest team I’ve ever faced as a player or coach. It goes to show what these kids can do when they believe in themselves.”
They came from behind, too.
Channelview struck first in the 22nd minute on Henry Estrada’s free kick from outside the penalty box.
But the Longhorns stole the lead quickly.
Nava, a sophomore, found the equalizer in the 34th minute on a rebound off a Perez header, then Perez, another sophomore, notched the go-ahead goal 30 seconds later on Nava’s pass into the box. Tense shootout
Dobie led 2-1 at halftime, but Estrada tied it in the 70th minute, heading in David Sorto’s well-placed corner kick.
Then they played to a stalemate through 20 overtime minutes.
“Even though they saw the way we take PKs (Friday), we made it through seven,” Channelview coach Carlos Galuppo said.
“So it definitely breaks out heart, but that’s the way the sport is.”