BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Edinburg North needed at least two points against Weslaco High to climb back into first place, where they have spent most of the season…they earned all three.
Thanks to a late penalty kick that Daniela Ortiz hammered home off the goalie’s fingertips, the Cougars completed a comeback and edged the Panthers 2-1 at Richard Flores Stadium on Wednesday night in Edinburg.
With the win, North leaped over Edinburg Vela to earn its second straight district crown, with a slightly different group of teams in 31-6A.
Ortiz, who hurt her leg earlier in the half, had a lot to deal with between the pain and the nerves of a district title on her boot.
“Honestly I was so super nervous,” Ortiz said. “I felt like I was going to make it but I was nervous that maybe I was going to make a little mistake. A lot of things go through your head when it goes up there by yourself.”
Even her shot had drama as the keeper made contact with the rise, but not enough to parry the blast.
“I thought she was going to save it. I was like ‘oh no,’” Ortiz said. “You have to give a strong kick so it can totally go in there.”
The Cougars were able to celebrate with certainty 4:21 later when time ran out and first place was official.
Weslaco High was already eliminated from playoff contention but the fifth-place team in the district didn’t make things easier for the home team.
In the game’s first 10 minutes, the Panthers turned a scramble in front into a lead when Neida Cantu put a soft touch on the ball over the Cougars keeper.
“Weslaco has lost many games but they’ve all been close,” North coach Danny Valdez said. “This is the second time we beat them by one. I don’t know any team that’s beat them by more than a goal or two. They’re a tough team and I knew they were going to give us a hassle.”
Once North found its ground after the conceded goal, the qualities of an experienced team was on full display. Ortiz was a main distributor in the middle. Passes continually caught the Panthers defense off their line.
Small, speedy forward Janelle Saenz put the Cougars on the board when she scored on a breakaway with 24 minutes to play in the first half.
“I just prayed to God that they would send me the ball and I would have the speed to get there,” Saenz said.
North continued to send balls behind the Panthers backline. The Cougars had three breakaways in total, along with numerous narrow offsides that might have adjusted the final score if the flag stayed down.
Sanez was glad that the work her team put in was enough to win the district title.
“It was nice to come out on time because we worked our hardest,” Saenz said. “We waited for this game and we worked our butts off. Thank God He gave us the speed and endurance to win.”
Valdez credited a senior-heavy unit for being able to hold off challengers through an improved and competitive 31-6A schedule.
“Most of the girls came back from last year; we only graduated two girls from last year’s team,” Veteran ENHS coach Danny Valdez said. “So they knew they had what it takes and what it would take to win a district championship.”
Ortiz echoed those statements and explained how her team was able to stay calm.
“We did everything together as a team, in the beginning, we struggled a little but time went by and we started having that connection after a while,” Ortiz said.
Edinburg North will move on to face Harlingen High in the bi-district round. Edinburg Vela will face Brownsville Hanna, while third-place Donna North draws Harlingen South. Edinburg High matches up against 32-6A champions Los Fresnos.