The Veterans Memorial Patriots returned to the pitch on January 2 for Day 2 of the SAISD Tournament, facing the El Paso Irvin Rockets. Showing incredible resilience after a tough opening day, the Patriots delivered a high-energy performance to secure their first tournament win with a hard-fought 3-2 victory. The Patriots set the tone early, controlling the pace and keeping the Rockets on the defensive. The offensive pressure paid off when Dedric Rangel found the back of the net to give the Patriots an early lead. Irvin responded quickly to equalize, sending both teams into the halftime break tied 1-1. The second half was a back-and-forth battle of wills. Fausto Castro proved to be the offensive spark the Patriots needed, netting two crucial goals. His efforts were supported by excellent teamwork, with assists coming from Jeremiah Galloway and Dylan Hadas. While the Rockets managed to tie the game again midway through the half, the Patriot defense held firm against late pressure. In the final minutes, the Patriots' persistence rewarded them with a late game-winning goal to "put the game to bed" and seal the win. By clinching third place in their pool, the Patriots have officially advanced to the Silver Bracket. They move on immediately to face Pflugerville later today, January 2, at the SAISD Sports Complex.