BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
Despite feeling like they outplayed their opponent for most of the game, the Roma Gladiators girls soccer team was knocked out of the playoffs in a 1-0 (3-1 in PKs) area round loss to Victoria West on Friday in Corpus Christi.
“It was a really tight game,” Roma assistant coach Alberto Castillo said. “Most of the game, we dominated. It was up and down.”
Neither team mounted a ton of offense, with Castillo estimating that Roma had 10 clear shots on goal compared to three or four for Victoria West.
Playing against the wind during the first half, Roma took a more cautious approach. After the wind calmed down at halftime, the Lady Gladiators switched to a more attacking style. Still, Roma was unable to break through, sending the game to a penalty shootout.
Roma scored on only the second of its four attempts, allowing Victoria West to clinch with a make in the fourth round.
The Lady Gladiators finished the season 6-6 in District 31-5A, with all six losses coming to Edinburg Vela, Sharyland High and Sharyland Pioneer — teams that are still alive in the Class 5A playoffs.
Roma will return just one senior next year — Jennyfer Gutierrez — after losing eight following this season.