By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The Pace Lady Vikings must enjoy the view from atop the District 32-5A girls soccer standings.
The Pace girls came into Friday’s home match against Porter as the undefeated 32-5A leader. The Lady Vikings showed they want to stay right where they are positioned in the standings by rallying from a 1-0 first-half deficit to win 2-1 over the Cowgirls.
“It was a very good win, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to keep the girls even more motivated than what they already were,” said Lady Vikings coach Jesus O. Villarreal, whose team improved to 4-0 in 32-5A. “This is good for them and for everything they’ve been doing. They’ve been working hard and they’re seeing everything is paying off.”
The Cowgirls (2-2 district) went up 1-0 midway through the first half following a corner kick taken from the right side. The ball carried over to the left side, where Porter’s Hilda Valdivieso sent a high chip shot into the left corner of the net from about 8 yards out.
Porter was looking good until Pace’s Kryssie Rivera found the mark from approximately 12 yards out to tie the score at 1 with seven minutes gone in the second half.
The game-winning score for Pace came 14 minutes into the second half when Porter was called for a trip inside the 18-yard box on the right side.
Lady Vikings team captain JoAnn Sanchez converted the penalty with a strong shot into the left corner of the net for a 2-1 score that put the Lady Vikings ahead for good.
“The Pace girls outplayed us,” Porter coach Abraham Gracia said. “They wanted it more than we did tonight. The will to want it more is something we can’t teach, and the Pace girls just wanted it a little more than us.”
The Lady Vikings were coming off Tuesday’s 2-0 win at PSJA High and next face another key test Tuesday at Donna North.
Porter was coming off Tuesday’s 2-1 victory on penalty kicks against PSJA Southwest.