Special to RGVFútbol

Related Links: Versión en Español

McALLEN, 1 Nov. - Four teams will look for their ticket to the playoffs Nov. 3 in the regular season finale of the South Texas Premier Soccer Association 18-and-Under Fall League.

At the conclusion of Week 7 on Oct. 27, six teams were in the qualifying zone for one of the four playoff berths of the STXPSA Fall League, which kickoff on Nov. 10. However, some teams will have an easier road than others due to their Week 7 results, while other complicated their playoff hopes by letting valuable points get away.

Of the six squads in playoff qualifying contention, Águilas y Jaguares assured themselves a spot in the postseason. Both teams will clash on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 9 a.m. to decide who will close out the regular season as the league’s overall leader.

Águilas (5-1-1, 16 points) tied 2-2 with Lobos to claim one of the four tickets to the playoffs, but they let go of a valuable three-point win that would’ve ensured them the overall regular-season first place spot in the STXPSA Fall League, and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Lobos (3-2-2, 11) rallied to overcome a 2-0 deficit to equalize the match on a pair of goals by Bryan Valencia (46’) and Alán Morales (76’) that allowed them to split points with the league leader and stay in the playoff hunt. Mario Ledesma (17’) and Alán Hernández (35’) opened the scoring for the Águilas in the first half.

With the draw, Lobos fight for one of the last two playoff berths against the Golden Rattlers “A” in the season finale at 9 a.m.

Jaguares (5-0-2, 15) defeated Potros 2-0 on a score in each half by José Valle (21’) and Joel Luna (69’), to reclaim the second place spot they had given up to the Bulldogs last week and claim a playoff berth.

With the loss, Potros dropped to 3-0-4 with nine points.

In another match, the Bulldogs (4-2-1, 14) had the chance to wrap up a playoff berth with a win and tie for first place, but they didn’t take advantage of a penalty kick in the second half that was stopped by the Golden Rattlers “B” goalkeeper Jorge Medina. The game ended in a scoreless tie that had the sweet taste of victory for the Rattlers “B” squad.

The Rattlers’ older brother, Golden Rattlers “A” (4-1-2, 13), got into the fight for a playoff berth the previous week and kept their hopes alive this week with a 2-0 win over the Raiders. Ricky Peña put Rattlers “A” up on the board in the 33rd minute and Luis Gómez scored an insurance goal in the 73rd to ensure the victory.

While some teams will play for a chance at qualifying to the playoffs Saturday, others will fight for position and try and finish with the best seeding posible and get the most favorable opponent in the semifinals.

In other Week 7 matches, Cougars “A” defeated Sabercats 6-0 on a pair of goals by Diego Sánchez (35’ and 53’), and single tallies by Luiz Altúzar (12’), Jesús Quintanilla (20’), Homero Treviño (31’), and Fabián Matamoros (42’), while Panteritas beat Cougars “B” 2-0.

Week 8 matches: Lobos vs. Golden Rattlers "A" and Jaguares vs. Águilas, 9 a.m.; Sabercats vs. Golden Rattlers “B” and Potros vs. Cougars “B”, 10:45 a.m.; Panteritas vs. Bulldogs, 12:30 p.m.

For more information about the STXPSA 18-and-Under boys and girls leagues, call (956) 212-5750 or visit www.stxpsa.com.