GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — When McAllen High first met McAllen Memorial on Feb. 12, Lady Bulldogs sophomore Serena Cervantes was taking part in the regional wrestling meet.
Down a key piece of its attack that night, McHi pulled out a win in penalty kicks. On Friday, with the Lady Bulldogs needing three points in their rematch with the Lady Mustangs to have a realistic shot at the District 30-6A title, Cervantes was there to provide the spark.
Her goal during the 24th minute of the opening half stood as the lone tally, allowing McAllen High to remain unbeaten in district play with a 1-0 win over McAllen Memorial at Boxer Hernandez Stadium.
“It was a lot of pressure, but I knew we could do it, because we beat them before,” Cervantes said.
The win gives McAllen High 11 victories — five of which have come in penalty kicks — for 28 points in the district standings. Although Memorial drops to 8-2, the Lady Mustangs have earned each win in regulation to amass 25 points, keeping them in contention to share the district crown.
In the event of a tie, McHi will claim the No. 1 seed after sweeping the two meetings with Memorial.
“It’s been two years since we had the trophy, so it would be nice to get it back,” McHi coach Pat Arney said.
Cervantes’ goal was a major factor helping the Lady Bulldogs get in range. The sophomore tracked down a long ball on the left half of the pitch and a few yards above the 18-yard box. After outmuscling her marker, Cervantes said she saw an opening in the corner of the net and felt good about her shot, even as she slipped in the mud and finished the play on a knee.
“It was very difficult,” Cervantes said. “I thought I could shoot the corner, so I shot it. I was hoping it would go in, and it did.”
Cervantes has been one of McHi’s leading scorers in district play this season despite missing a pair of matches to participate in the regional wrestling tournament and travel to state as an alternate.
Arney credited Cervantes’ success to her full-throttle effort, even if it occasionally results in fouls. He added that she has a knack for scoring big goals, tallying against Memorial last season and lighting up Rowe throughout her two years on varsity.
“She was 25 or 30 yards out. To turn and pop one over like that, I didn’t see it coming,” Arney said. “I thought she was going to pass it, and she just went for goal and put it in. It’s a hell of a shot.”
Though Memorial’s offense is one of the Valley’s most potent, the Lady Mustangs scored just once in two matchups with the Lady Bulldogs this season, and that goal came on a penalty kick.
Arney said the key was strong pressure and man marking. Jackie Lemus was steady in goal, Cari Guerra was assigned to take away Memorial’s Connie Avila, and Mia and Miranda Muñoz were both strong on the back end. McHi also benefitted from the return of Hannah Kelly, who did not play in the first matchup with Memorial due to injury, and the constant presence of lone senior starter Gaby Gonzalez.
“The defense did an awesome job,” Arney said.
Still, Memorial had plenty of opportunities to net an equalizer, none better than when Natalie Young rang a shot off the left post about 8 minutes into the second half.
Avila, Daisy Robles, Leslie Santana, Cameron Alaniz and Priscilla Quintero all had scoring opportunities during the final 40 minutes, but each came up empty.
“We’re used to getting quite a few chances against other teams, but with McHi it’s usually cut in half,” coach Matthew Kaiser said. “Do you score on those? If you do, the game goes your way. And if you don’t, it doesn’t.”
With matchups against La Joya Palmview and Mission High remaining on the schedule, Memorial can still secure a share of the district title if it wins out in regulation.
McHi has just one game remaining, against Palmview.
“We have to take care of business these last two games,” Kaiser said. “I think we’ll rebound well, and we’ll finish things off the way we want and look towards the playoffs.”
Cervantes’ goal lifts McAllen High past Memorial
BY GREG LUCA
STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — When McAllen High first met McAllen Memorial on Feb. 12, Lady Bulldogs sophomore Serena Cervantes was taking part in the regional wrestling meet.
Down a key piece of its attack that night, McHi pulled out a win in penalty kicks. On Friday, with the Lady Bulldogs needing three points in their rematch with the Lady Mustangs to have a realistic shot at the District 30-6A title, Cervantes was there to provide the spark.
Her goal during the 24th minute of the opening half stood as the lone tally, allowing McAllen High to remain unbeaten in district play with a 1-0 win over McAllen Memorial at Boxer Hernandez Stadium.
“It was a lot of pressure, but I knew we could do it, because we beat them before,” Cervantes said.
The win gives McAllen High 11 victories — five of which have come in penalty kicks — for 28 points in the district standings. Although Memorial drops to 8-2, the Lady Mustangs have earned each win in regulation to amass 25 points, keeping them in contention to share the district crown.
In the event of a tie, McHi will claim the No. 1 seed after sweeping the two meetings with Memorial.
“It’s been two years since we had the trophy, so it would be nice to get it back,” McHi coach Pat Arney said.
Cervantes’ goal was a major factor helping the Lady Bulldogs get in range. The sophomore tracked down a long ball on the left half of the pitch and a few yards above the 18-yard box. After outmuscling her marker, Cervantes said she saw an opening in the corner of the net and felt good about her shot, even as she slipped in the mud and finished the play on a knee.
“It was very difficult,” Cervantes said. “I thought I could shoot the corner, so I shot it. I was hoping it would go in, and it did.”
Cervantes has been one of McHi’s leading scorers in district play this season despite missing a pair of matches to participate in the regional wrestling tournament and travel to state as an alternate.
Arney credited Cervantes’ success to her full-throttle effort, even if it occasionally results in fouls. He added that she has a knack for scoring big goals, tallying against Memorial last season and lighting up Rowe throughout her two years on varsity.
“She was 25 or 30 yards out. To turn and pop one over like that, I didn’t see it coming,” Arney said. “I thought she was going to pass it, and she just went for goal and put it in. It’s a hell of a shot.”
Though Memorial’s offense is one of the Valley’s most potent, the Lady Mustangs scored just once in two matchups with the Lady Bulldogs this season, and that goal came on a penalty kick.
Arney said the key was strong pressure and man marking. Jackie Lemus was steady in goal, Cari Guerra was assigned to take away Memorial’s Connie Avila, and Mia and Miranda Muñoz were both strong on the back end. McHi also benefitted from the return of Hannah Kelly, who did not play in the first matchup with Memorial due to injury, and the constant presence of lone senior starter Gaby Gonzalez.
“The defense did an awesome job,” Arney said.
Still, Memorial had plenty of opportunities to net an equalizer, none better than when Natalie Young rang a shot off the left post about 8 minutes into the second half.
Avila, Daisy Robles, Leslie Santana, Cameron Alaniz and Priscilla Quintero all had scoring opportunities during the final 40 minutes, but each came up empty.
“We’re used to getting quite a few chances against other teams, but with McHi it’s usually cut in half,” coach Matthew Kaiser said. “Do you score on those? If you do, the game goes your way. And if you don’t, it doesn’t.”
With matchups against La Joya Palmview and Mission High remaining on the schedule, Memorial can still secure a share of the district title if it wins out in regulation.
McHi has just one game remaining, against Palmview.
“We have to take care of business these last two games,” Kaiser said. “I think we’ll rebound well, and we’ll finish things off the way we want and look towards the playoffs.”