Wolverines deliver gutsy effort, but fall to Bishop McGuinness

Josh Trejo couldn’t have been more proud of how Polk County’s soccer season came to an end.

Not that Trejo enjoyed Polk County’s 3-1 loss Saturday to Bishop McGuinness in the second round of the state 1A playoffs. But the Wolverines held their own for most of the match with the Villians, one of the perennial powers of 1A soccer, and that gave Trejo some reason to smile at match’s end.

“I was so proud of my team, that they worked all the way to the end of the game,” Trejo said. “It was an emotional night.

“As a coach, to see all my players emotional, really hurt, but at the same time I was proud that they wanted it that bad. As a former player, I know how my seniors felt. It is a sad moment because you don’t know what your future holds. I was very proud of my seniors, they left it all on the field, and my underclassmen definitely fed off the seniors’ energy.”

Bishop McGuinness (15-2-3), the second seed in the 1A West bracket, took a 1-0 lead at halftime, but the Wolverines (10-10-1) tied the score in the second half as Salvador Chavez fed a perfect pass to Isaac Edwards, who pushed past a defender and scored to even the match.

But the Villians responded with a goal moments later to take the lead, then added another just before the match ended on an indirect fee kick from the six-yard box.

The loss, though, took nothing away from the season for Trejo, who ended his first year as Polk County’s head coach.

“We all wanted it,” Trejo said of the match. “And I was very grateful to have such a dedicated team that would push themselves and never quit even when the odds were against them. They always tried to prove the impossible and I believe they learned more than just soccer this season. They learned that if they believe in themselves they can do anything they set their mind to and they have made a family.

“My team is a family, in bad times and good times, we are still a family. So for us these are memories that we will cherish and hold on too for the rest of our lives.

“I would like to thank my team for everything this season. I want to thank the fans and the administrative staff that came and supported the team this season. And especially the parents that supported the kids.”