PECOS, TX — For the first time since 2022, the Lake View Chiefs are moving on in the playoffs. The Chiefs exploded with four goals to claim victory in an offensive shootout over the El Paso Austin Panthers on Friday in Pecos.
Lake View entered the playoffs on a 19-game unbeaten streak and a 63-game unbeaten streak in district play with yet another district championship. Expectations were sky high before this matchup started, and Lake View delivered.
"First of all, all praise to God," head coach Kyle Jones said after the game. "He's been with us all season, and He's been with us the past five years. The 63-game unbeaten streak in district is a state record. It's unheard of, and we are proud to have that honor."
Despite their regular-season success, the Chiefs have struggled in the first round of the playoffs. That was not the case on Friday. With the win, Lake View moved on to the Area Round for only the second time in the last five years.
"The boys fought hard," Jones continued. "We knew Austin was going to give us everything they had, and with the heat and everything going on with the elements, we were running out of gas. But the boys pulled through. We needed those four goals, and it paid off big time."
Lake View used an effective counterattack early, scoring off a deflected pass and a steal that turned into a rocket from Ulises Chavez. The Chiefs took the lead in the 21st minute off the interception from Xzavier Hinojos. He found Chavez near the box, and Chavez beat the goalkeeper to claim a 1-0 lead.
Chavez was not finished yet. Just eight minutes later, Jeremy Zavala found Chavez behind the defense again. He put the ball in the goal, and it looked like Lake View would run away with this one before halftime.
However, El Paso Austin fought back, cutting the deficit in half with seven minutes to play in the half. The wake-up call forced Lake View to counter again. This time, striker Jeremy Zavala added to his monstrous season total of 26 goals with a strike of his own. Giovanni Mendoza found Zavala streaking down the field before Zavala buried another goal home.
Lake View led at the half, 3-1.
Lake View Chiefs Soccer Claims 2026 Bi-District Championship
While the lead was comfortable, Austin never gave up. In fact, after Zavala scored again in the 61st minute, the Panthers would go on a rally. The Referee called a foul on goalkeeper Sebastian Heredia in the box that gave Austin a penalty kick. The Panthers scored that and another goal eight minutes later to pull within one with ten minutes to play.
"Those guys have been big time all year," Jones said of Chavez and Zavala. "We have been relying on them all year to go out and get the job done. Today, they did not let us down. They showed up to play, and who knew we needed four goals in the Bi-District? But we got it done."
It was then the backline and midfielders' time to shine. Without their defense, Lake View might not have held on. However, after the final goal Austin scored, the Panthers quickly became unable to move the ball with much authority on Lake View's half of the field. Izaiah Rios stopped several would-be scoring chances by himself as Lake View played keep-away throughout the final minutes.
"Yeah, they played great," Jones said of his defense. "All six of them that we use to defend, and even our midfielders that dropped back, helped us win that game. They ended the game the way they should have."
The final buzzer sounded, and the Lake View Chiefs claimed a Bi-District Championship, 4-3.
Ulises Chavez and Jeremy Zavala led the way for Lake View's offense on Friday with two goals and one assist apiece. Xzavier Hinojos and Giovanni Mendoza also registered one assist each.
Lake View outshot Austin as a team throughout. The Chiefs finished with 20 shots and 10 on goal in the matchup to Austin's nine shots and four on goal.
Defensively, Heredia played an excellent game in the net for Lake View. He only had one save, but it was a spectacular save at the end of the first half that would have been the eventual equalizer.
Next up, Lake View plays in the Area Round next Monday or Tuesday. The Chiefs will play the winner between Decatur and West Plains.
Lake View Chiefs Soccer in the playoffs 2026
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