Xxavier Garza heads the ball for Bridgeport in the 4A Division II State Semifinal against Dallas Pinkston Friday. Garza scored one goal in the 3-1 win at McKinney ISD Stadium to help the Bulls make a return to the state championship for the first time since 2017. MICAH MCCARTNEY | WCMESSENGER
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Bridgeport Bulls will make their return to the state championship.
Bridgeport (21-3) took down Dallas Pinkston (17-4-5) 3-1 Friday at McKinney ISD Stadium, registering goals from Xxavier Garza, Jared Contreras and Cory Lopez in the 4A Division II State Semifinal win.
While Pinkston put up the most valiant defensive effort the Bulls had seen this postseason, marking Bridgeport’s top scorers with up to four defenders, it wasn’t enough to slow down the high-octane offense.
“If they want to give up four of their guys to take one of ours out, that’s fine. We’ve always got 10 more capable players on the field,” Bridgeport coach Brandon Medrano said. “These guys are the Bulls for a reason. They’re tough, rugged, they’ll play in any type of weather and take on anything in their way. They’ve got one more game to go, and one more to be at their very best. I think they’re gonna show the entire State of Texas who the best team in 4A is.”
Garza put Bridgeport on the board in the first half with a header a few feet from the goal.
After David Duran’s shot from 35 yards out nailed the crossbar, Contreras tried his own header and Garza used his miss to get past Pinkston goalkeeper Emmanuel Silva with 12:35 to play in the first half.
“I wanted this one today so bad. When I saw Jared had headed it and I had the chance for us again, I knew I had to go,” Garza said. “When it hit the back of the net it was an incredible feeling, getting to celebrate with my teammates and fans at this stage in playoffs.”
Bridgeport carried a 1-0 lead into halftime, but Pinkston knotted up the match in the 58th minute.
Jose Joel Rangel buried a ball into the top shelf off of a free kick just outside the box on the left side of the field.
The 1-1 tie held for less than 10 minutes of action, and Pinkston was never able to get back on the board.
The Vikings were dealt a yellow card with 15:52 to go in the second half after taking out Bridgeport’s Jesus Rodriguez in the box, and Contreras stepped up to take the penalty kick. He reached the net on a low kick to the bottom right corner, putting the Bulls back up by a goal.
“Shooting a penalty is about being decisive and knowing exactly where you want to put it, then executing,” Contreras said. “I just felt excited when I had the opportunity to get us up on the board. I had the courage to step up there and take it, and I was just excited to have the opportunity.”
Medrano added that Contreras is the type of player to give anything for a win, and he wasn’t surprised that the penalty kick went in, or that Contreras stepped up to take it.
“He’ll give up his toes, his knees, his head — whatever gets the team moving forward,” Medrano said. “He’s always the one that says ‘Coach, I’ll go first,’ even if it’s an uncomfortable or high-pressure situation.”
Bridgeport’s lead was extended late in the match by Lopez, who put the game away with a goal in the 76th minute.
Lopez hung around the outside of the box while a ricochet shot on goal by the Bulls bounced back his way. With ample time and space, Lopez teed up the look he wanted and sent a screamer into the net, effectively sealing the Bridgeport win.
“I saw the ball coming to my weak foot and placed it bottom left,” Lopez said. “It was God’s plan. It was meant to go there and go in.”
The Bulls will face the winner of Royal/Corpus Christi London in the 4A Division II State Championship 6:30 p.m. April 9 in Georgetown.
Bridgeport’s last championship appearance in 2017 ended with a shootout loss to Kilgore.
“That was nearly 10 years ago, and these guys were just kids. They were fans at the time and remember brothers, cousins, relatives and friends getting that far,” Medrano said. “They saw the price that was paid by the ones that came before them, and they’ve done everything to get back. They’ve followed the blueprint and the plan to win a state championship, and they’ve put in the work to do it, too. I couldn’t be more proud of them. I think they’re gonna prove some doubters wrong and make Bridgeport extremely proud.”
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