By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer
Tyler Morning Telegraph

And Robles usually finished what he started, helping the Red Raiders win back-to-back district championships (2007-08) and earning Goalkeeper of the Year honors in the process.

 

Robles was then signed by perennial power Tyler Junior College, where his run of success was interrupted last season as merely the third goalkeeper behind two sophomores.

He saw some game action in a three-man rotation during the regular season, but did not play in either of the Apaches' two playoff games. As the only returning sophomore goalkeeper in 2009, his task was simple.

"I said to myself, 'I'm going to be the only sophomore next year and if I don't find myself starting, that's going to be put all on me because I didn't work hard enough,'" said Robles, whose Apaches will play in a South District semifinal against Mississippi Gulf Coast at 4 p.m. today at Pat Hartley Field.

Not only did Robles work hard enough, he did so with the right person. He began working with TJC's new goalkeeper coach, Derek Talcott, last spring. The sessions continued into the summer.

"He's really cleaned a lot of my technique up," said the 6-1, 180-pound Robles. "I never had a goalkeeper coach until I came to TJC. I really do think he's helped a lot."

Robles explained that Talcott was able to simplify the art of making a save.

"You don't have to make it as hard as it seems on TV," Robles said. "It's just simple stuff that helps a lot."

Robles is credited with eight of the Apaches' 10 shutouts this season. He ranks 11th in the nation with a 0.69 goals-against average.

TJC head coach Steve Clements is impressed with Robles' athleticism, quickness and ability to cover the entire goal.

"Now that he's been working with someone full-time every day, he's really improved as much as anybody on the team," Clements said. "He reads the game better. He never lacked the athletic ability, but now he knows where to be and when to be there."

Robles, who goes by the nickname "BB," dreams of one day being a professional goalkeeper. But that is far from his mind.

"It would be nice, but as of right now I would like to finish this season on a good note and then have two more great years (at a four-year college) and see where I go from there," he said.

Finishing on a good note means at least making the national tournament. The top-ranked Apaches (16-0) are two wins from doing just that as they host the four-team South District Tournament today and Saturday.

Smoke Signals:

Robles is the only player from Tyler on a TJC team represented by eight countries. "I do take pride in that," Robles said. "I honestly don't mind. The environment of the team, with all these different people from all over the place, it's really nice." There are 11 U.S. players on the team, including four from Texas. Western Texas, which plays Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa at 6 p.m. today, lost to the Apaches 2-1 on Sept. 25 in Tyler. The Apaches have not played Northern Oklahoma or Mississippi Gulf Coast this season.  The Apaches defeated San Jacinto, 3-1, in the Region XIV final last Saturday. Kenny Mena and Dom Dwyer each scored a goal, giving them a team-leading 11 apiece.

Kareem Freitas scored the other goal, his seventh of the season.  TJC has at least one goal from 18 different players.