Soccer in Gonzales: History that shouldn’t be missed

Ever since the news broke that Gonzales was adding a soccer program, there has been some excitement around the community with many people, mostly on social media, praising the move saying “finally! Soccer in Gonzales!”

As of Thursday press day, the boys’ soccer team is 1-1 and the girls are 1-2. Not too shabby for a first-ever program led by first-time head coaches Jenna Philips (girls’ head coach) and Greg Ramirez (boys’ head coach).

On Tuesday night, I figured it would be cool to get a “master shot” of Apache Field to show the new soccer markings on the football field. Well after the photo was shared on our Facebook page we got about 200 likes and some more comments from people who were happy to have soccer in Gonzales but then one reader remarked that the stadium looked a bit empty.

A few background items before I go further. First, the picture was taken minutes before the Lady Apaches’ game against Port Lavaca Calhoun. Second, it was a bit cold out as stated in the little stat box I posted on page 8 where temperatures reached below 40 degrees, inching closer to freezing point.

With that being said, though it wasn’t necessarily “soccer weather,” with all the support this sport got before the game, it sure would have been nice to see the support manifest to a crowd Tuesday night.

Especially for something as special as “history in the making.”

I understand the weather didn’t help and the teams cannot advance to the playoffs these first two years as they are operating on what’s called an outlaw schedule. But that doesn’t mean these boys and girls aren’t playing for anything important.

It can’t be overstated enough the history that’s happening before our very eyes on the pitch. We have never seen high school soccer on Apache Field. That should mean something. But a roaring crowd of 20 people (yes I’m being facetious) kind of takes away the specialness of this moment.

Tonight, the Apache boys will be a part of their own piece of history as they take on Smithville in Gonzales’ first-ever boys’ home soccer game. Although writing “first-ever boys’ home soccer game” doesn’t quite flow as much as “first-ever game” or even “first-ever home game,” it’s still a “first” and very much an important one for this program.

Coach Ramirez has already expressed his excitement to me Tuesday night about the game as he talked about wanting to do well for the home crowd that will hopefully include parents of the soccer players.  Isn’t witnessing history enough of a sell for tonight’s game?

How about we make this event even more special by including a crowd of Gonzales fans who are more than just parents?

The Apaches deserve it.