By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
LOS FRESNOS — On the bright side, it could have been a lot colder, wetter and windier than it was on Friday night for the non-district girls soccer match between Los Fresnos and Brownsville Veterans Memorial at Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium.
Once the match began, though, it seemed the players didn’t mind the less-than-ideal conditions at all. They just wanted to play and have another chance to prepare for district competition, which starts next week for both teams.
“It’s not so bad,” said Lady Falcons coach Patricia K. Hernandez about the weather after the game ended with temperatures in the low 50s, barely a breeze and no rain falling, although it had been drizzling earlier.
Brownsville Veterans won 1-0 on a shot from the right side taken by sophomore Arely Guzman from 20-plus yards out just 13 minutes into the contest.
Guzman’s shot came in fast and strong on a line drive, glanced off the goalkeepers’ hands and went into the net.
“Any time you play Los Fresnos, you know it’s always going to be a good test,” Lady Chargers coach Luis Troncoso said. “We knew we had to come out and execute.
“I thought our defense played well,” he added. “We were challenged and our girls held their ground (to record a shutout). Another thing I liked was we were able to give some of our girls playing time so they could experience the type of competition you get when you play Los Fresnos.”
Hannah Obregon was credited with the assist on Guzman’s goal.
Brownsville Veterans came close to making it 2-0 later in the first half when a shot from about eight yards away went off the right post.
After the Lady Chargers had won the match in regulation, the two teams practiced a penalty-kick situation and Los Fresnos prevailed 3-2 with Allison Spier, Gaby X. Mariscal and Cassie Lozano converting PKs for the Lady Falcons, who are defending District 32-6A champions.
“Veterans gave us some very good competition,” Hernandez said. “It was a good insight into what we can expect in our district. Based on tonight and what we saw last weekend in the Brownsville Tournament, we know what we need to work on and fix to be ready for district.
“We have a young team with five returnees, I believe,” Hernandez added. “We’re rebuilding. Right now it’s a matter of getting our team to play as a unit and communicate. It’s a work in progress, but within the next week we’re going to hit practice hard, put all the pieces together, including having the ones we just got back from injury, and get it done so we’ll be ready for district.”
Los Fresnos plays its last non-district match at home Tuesday against Port Isabel before starting 32-6A action next Friday at San Benito.
Brownsville Veterans is at home for its final non-district game next Tuesday against Weslaco High before beginning District 32-5A competition as the home team next Friday against Pace. The Lady Chargers, who are expected to play their home games in district at Porter or Lopez this year, finished second in 32-5A last season.