BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
Edinburg Vela’s boys soccer team is a combined 1-31 in district play during the past two seasons, but coach Americo Cortez believes he has a team that is ready to compete for the district title.
The SaberCats took a big step towards proving it this week, making a run to the finals of the Gulf Coast Classic in Corpus Christi before falling 2-1 on penalty kicks against Corpus Christi King.
A Vela team that struggled as freshmen and sophomores is coming into its own this season, with the majority of the starters being juniors who already have two years of starting experience.
“To me, it’s no surprise,” Cortez said. “The hard work they’ve been doing the past two years, I have a team of starters who started with me as freshmen two years ago. I’m very proud of them, because after two straight losing seasons, they haven’t ever given up. They’re still there.”
Cortez said he’s seen his team improve in almost every way: the SaberCats are smarter and more talented than in previous seasons.
The passing is better, the shooting is better, and the team chemistry is better.
“We score from all over the place,” Cortez said. “It’s a team that doesn’t have a guy that you can say, ‘This guy is going to score.’ I don’t have a powerful forward. Everyone does their part.”
SHARYLAND’S SPARK
With her bright red hair and energetic play, freshman Kaitie Watson has quickly earned the title of “firecracker” for the Sharyland High girls soccer team.
Watson scored eight goals during the team’s trip to the Gulf Coast Classic in Corpus Christi, pushing her season total to 19 and helping Sharyland secure the championship with a 5-0 win against Brenham in the finals.
“She’s proven and shown that she’s, in my opinion, one of the best players in the Valley,” coach Aaron Clemons said. “If not the best.”
Clemons said Watson’s talent jumped out early during the practice season. She has quickness, ball control and a strong leg, a combination that makes her a dangerous threat offensively.
“She’s everything you’re looking for in a player, and probably one of the hardest workers we have on our team,” Clemons said. “She’s just a ‘Yes, sir’ kind of girl. ‘I can do it. Put it on me. I’ll take care of it.’”
Isabella Marino also scored eight goals in the tournament, as she and defender Nikki Gonzalez earned all-Tournament honors.
The big difference Clemons saw between the Gulf Coast Classic and the team’s 1-1-1 showing at the McAllen High Showcase was finishing. Clemons worked on that with the team throughout the week in practice, even putting himself in goal while trying to simulate game situations.
“Everybody we’ve played so far this year, we’ve been dominant,” Clemons said. “We just hadn’t been able to put up the points that I anticipated us putting up. But those finishing drills did a lot of good.”
ROAD TEST
While most Valley teams were in action at the Brownsville Tournament, Sharyland High’s boys went on the road to the Smithson Valley Ranger Classic in Spring Branch. The Rattlers defeated College Station 2-0, lost 1-0 to Waco and then defeated Dripping Springs 6-1 in the third-place game.
Sharyland Pioneer’s girls also left the Valley last week, with a 1-2 showing at the I-10 Shootout in Katy.
Pioneer picked up a 4-0 win against Tomball but then lost 5-0 to eventual champion The Woodlands and 3-0 to Cy Woods.
“We are a work in progress, but we have a few good wins under our belt that have given us confidence,” Pioneer coach J.J. Lopez said.
Boys Top 10
Pvs
1, Brownsville Rivera 1
2, Brownsville Porter 4
3, Valley View 5
4, Brownsville Lopez 6
5, La Joya Palmview 7
6, Sharyland High 2
7, Brownsville Hanna 8
8, Edinburg North NR
9, Edinburg Vela NR
10, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 3
Girls Top 10
Pvs
1, Los Fresnos 6
2, McAllen Memorial 1
3, Harlingen South 8
4, Sharyland High 3
5, Edinburg Economedes NR
6, Brownsville Hanna 4
7, Brownsville Rivera 10
8, Edinburg North NR
9, Sharyland Pioneer 9
10, McAllen High 7