The Buttons competed for the TAPPS Division I Semifinals at the Round Rock Sports Center in Round Rock, Texas this morning. This, following the big win on Thursday, forced the Central Catholic Buttons (16-1-2) into a must-win semi-final against Houston St. Thomas Eagles (19-2-1). With everything on the line, the Buttons hoped to get one step closer to breaking the four-year state championship drought. 

Caple Esquivel of Central Catholic opened up the score to 1-0 fifteen minutes into the game. Forty seconds later, Mambo Tello of St. Thomas tied the score, restoring St.Thomas’ hope. Less than six minutes later, Marcos Hernandez capitalized on a rebound to put his team ahead 2-1. The play began with Caple Esquivel firing a shot that was blocked by senior goalkeeper Lucas Wood, but Hernandez was quick to pounce on the rebound and fire it into the net. To finish off the half, Tello of St. Tomas drew a yellow card, giving a penalty kick to the Buttons; however, this was blocked by Wood. 

The second half was a defensive one for the Buttons. Fewer than five minutes into the half, Eagle’s Mambo Tello drew his second yellow card, leading to a red card, which forced his team to go down to ten men. With 1:16 left, a penalty kick was awarded to the Eagles from a foul called on John Paul Vallejo. Buttons’ goalkeeper Jaime Hereen saved the penalty, putting the Eagles on their back. 

The Buttons now advance to the TAPPS 6A Division I State Championship against Dallas Parish Episcopal at 9:30 am in Round Rock. Safe to say the Buttons have a big day ahead of them if they want to add a banner to the collection and go down in history as State Champions.