By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The long wait is over.
The Porter Cowgirls have qualified for the state playoffs in soccer for the first time since they began playing the UIL sport in 1998.
They’ve come very close to reaching the postseason before, but it just didn’t happen until last Friday. Last season was an example. The Cowgirls tied Pace for fourth place in District 32-5A but were edged out on a tiebreaker by the Lady Vikings for the district’s final playoff spot.
Even though the Porter girls lost their 32-5A match 1-0 on penalty kicks Friday at Pace, they picked up one point in the standings, while the Lady Vikings earned two.
Coupled with the result of another 32-5A game that night, it clinched playoff spots for both Pace (9-2, 25 points) and Porter (7-4, 24 points). PSJA Southwest (9-2, 26 points), now the sole district leader after Friday, is in the playoffs, too.
While the Pace girls made it to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2011, this marks the initial trip to the postseason for the Cowgirls, who play host to Donna High (1-10, three points) at 8 p.m. Tuesday. That game follows the 32-5A match between the Cowboys (11-0, 33 points) and Redskins (6-5, 18 points) at 6 p.m.
“This is my fourth year at Porter, and to make it to the playoffs my last year here is just amazing,” said Alexis Vega, a senior forward and team captain for the Cowgirls. “It really means a lot to me to be a part of this team. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing that I’ll experience.”
Added Allysa Vega, Alexis’ sister who is a sophomore central defender, “I’m so proud of myself and my teammates because we’ve been working hard every day to be in this position. Everything we’re doing (is contributing to our success). We want to go farther in the playoffs than what people think we can.”
Besides the Vega sisters, other members of the Cowgirls’ starting lineup are goalkeeper Andrea Villaneuva, defenders Kasandra Reyes, Quetzali Cortez and Roxanna Miranda, center midfielders Sheila Dominguez and Carla Longoria, midfielders on the wing Lizbeth Garcia and Hilda Valdivieso, and forward Priscila Cortinas.
Helping off the bench are Itzelh Casarez, Susana Romero, Katherine Castillo and Kassandra Demetrio. Also on the team is Sandra Andrade, who is currently sidelined with an injury.
“More than anything, it’s the commitment these girls have and the effort they give,” said eighth-year Cowgirls coach Abraham Gracia, who is assisted by Ricardo Salazar. ”It’s rare for one of these girls to miss practice, even when they’re hurt. If they’re hurt, they come and sit down just to watch practice. They’re a phenomenal group of girls.”
When asked how it felt Friday to learn his team had made the playoffs, Gracia said, “The news caught me by surprise to be honest because I knew what the points were, but I wasn’t aware of the score from the other game (where PSJA Southwest defeated Donna North 3-0) until the Pace coach told me and congratulated us. I’ve been so happy. After eight years (as coach), it’s happened. I went to church Sunday and almost cried.
We still have three regular-season (32-5A) games left, so we’re just going to take it game by game,” he added.”We still have a chance for the district title.”
The significance of the Cowgirls’ accomplishment is motivating the team, Garcia said.
“This is our dream come true,” said Garcia, a junior utility player and team captain. “We trust each other. We’re staying positive and confident. We’re excited and we’re ready to go far.
“We’re making history for the first time in Porter girls soccer, and we’re giving it all to make everyone proud — our coaches, our high school and Brownsville.”