PACHS Team Wins Championship of the Chi Town Soccer Tournament
By Jesus García
As the Chi-Town Cup tournament was approaching, our team spent our time practicing to improve. It wasn’t the last tournament but we were committed for this one. I was going to be the second goalie of the team, behind Jose Lopez. The players on the floor were Shannon (The Captain), Jose T., Ricardo, and the other newcomer of the team, Fransisco. We were all heated up to take the trophy from Latino Youth. I was excited because I knew we had a good squad. I woke up the day of the tournament determined to win because I never won a championship in my life. I made my way to the school because the seniors needed to help clean the Humboldt park community. So after that we headed to Barreto’s Boys and Girls Club to find out that coach “Ray-Money” wasn’t there yet. He came in a suit, looking like a real professional soccer coach; it was funny. There were only two other teams there but everyone was okay with that. The two teams were Latino Youth, the defending champions, and Rudy Lozano. The games were very exciting because I played my first soccer tournament. There were some amazing goals between the two Jose’s going coast to coast with back to back head shot goals thrown from Jose Lopez (the goalie) to Jose Toledo (the midfielder). As the final game approached, everyone was excited. The game started off well with an early goal from Campos players. The score was one to zero when Latino Youth scored a goal on Jose Lopez, and the game was tied up. After the first half, I went in the game for Jose Lopez, and we were leading two to one. I was really nervous because it was up to me to block these shots. I guess being nervous got to me. I missed a shot. and it was all tied up once again. The whistle blew loudly–the game was over. It was up to the penalty kicks. I was to be the goalie, which made me even more nervous; it was all up to me to block shots. As I blocked the first shot, I was heated up with motivation and nothing was going to stop me from getting more blocks. My team backed me up with making goals when it was their turn.  I ended up blocking two out of the three shots to win the championship game. I am thankful for the team for taking me in the team as well as my coach “Ray Money.” It was a great tournament I won’t forget.  We have the trophy now.