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Magna • The Cyprus soccer revolution continues.
The Pirates improved to 5-0 Friday with a 3-2 overtime win over Region 2 rival West. Senior forward Andy Rodriguez scored his second goal of the game — giving him a state-high nine total — in the first minute of overtime to secure the win.
Rodriguez banged in the deciding goal after a low cross from Ivan Lezama. The goal was awkward, bouncing off of Rodriguez's shin before he threw his leg in what happened to be the right direction at the right time. It was nothing like the beautiful breakaway he tapped past West goalkeeper Daniel Ainsworth in the first half.
This one, though, was more satisfying.
"He crossed it and it hit me, and my first thought was, 'shot,' " Rodriguez said.
The goal ensured Cyprus will finish the season with its most wins since 2005, when the Pirates finished 6-9-1.
The program didn't win a game for the next three years, and won only four games last season. And now, the Pirates are looking like the class of Region 2.
"They want their turn," first-year coach Jason DeHerrera said, "that opportunity."
It's something that has long eluded Cyprus, which has never won a state championship.
"We all came together and we're all like, 'We want that ultimate goal,'" Rodriguez said.
DeHerrera said it's too early to gauge who the favorites in Region 2 will be, but he said he likes his team's chances.
The Pirates beat last year's region champion, Granger, in an 8-0 blowout on Tuesday. West provided an early obstacle and the game could end up having postseason implications. In addition to Rodriguez's two goals, Marlo Matamoros also scored, giving him eight goals for the year.
After the win, DeHerrera said he didn't want to take anything away from West, but that he thinks he has a very good team. Then, on another day won by his forwards, he smiled and said, "We're kind of stacked everywhere, I feel."
Cyprus 3, West 2
R Leading scorers Andy Rodriguez and Marlo Matamoros both score for the Pirates.