Henderson Knocks Off Pittsburg to Advance to Regional Quarterfinals

LONGVIEW -- Sevastian Deleon sent the second goal through and the game seemed sealed.

With just more than 12 minutes left in an area round game between Henderson and Pittsburg, Deleon sent to ball to the side of the net to put the Lions up two goals. That was ultimately one more than Henderson needed, as it defeated Pittsburg, 2-0 on Tuesday night at Lobo Stadium.

"Pittsburg is an absolutely relentless team and they play a real aggressive game," coach evan Dean said. "They weren't letting up the whole time. I knew they were going to get a few more chances. We had to finish another one. We had the right man at the right place and he put it in. We absolutely had to have that goal."

Deleon was the only one to score a goal all night. His first goal came with 19 minutes remaining in the first half after the Lions were awarded a corner kick. Salvador Bazaldua delivered the ball right where it needed to be as Deleon sent it gliding past the scrum of players and to the back of the net.

Dean said Deleon leading his team to a victory is a familiar sight.

"If he's not the one scoring it, he has somehow created it," Dean said. "He is an absolutely massive player in the middle of the field and a team player that brings everybody into the game. When it falls to his feet, there ain't gonna be no doubt about it."

Henderson's defense kept Pittsburg in check in the first half and through most of the second, until the Pirates started getting more aggressive in their attack in desperation. Pittsburg had only two shots on goal but both came in the second half.

"A lot of that comes from being able to shut them down in the middle," Dean said. "They like to do a long ball to (Marco Trejo) in the middle. My sweeper, Jorge Guzman, really organized his two outside backs and my stopper made sure that we didn't let their midfield control us. They fought for everything they had."

The victory advances Henderson to the regional quarterfinals, where it will face Chapel Hill. The Bulldogs are coming off a 14-0 victory against Atlanta in the area round. The game starts at 6 p.m. Friday at Lobo Stadium in Longview.