By NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
DONNA — Edinburg Vela took down Donna North 2-0 on Friday night in a playoff-like atmosphere game featuring playoff-bound teams.
Heavy wind was a factor all game, blowing from South to North, but the SaberCats were able to score in the first half, with the gusts at their back, for a lift at the break.
With the victory, Vela improves to 8-2 with 24 points in the standings, while North is two points behind with 22 at 7-4.
Scoring first for Vela was junior Dayana Cantu, who almost nearly sat out because of illness.
“ I got a fever last night and I went to school a little late, but I went to school so I could be able to play,” Cantu said. “I had to come and put some goals in.”
Her tally came in the final two minutes of the first half on a second-effort kick after the goalkeeper was unable to collect Cantu’s first shot.
“ I saw it going out and I had to follow it through to get it,” Cantu said.
Even though the lead was only one, the momentum of a late goal went a long way.
“ That goal really put our heads up,” Vela coach Americo Cortez said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game. We knew the potential they have. And at their place, we knew they were going to come out strong.”
North spent a large share of the second half on possession. Forwards Gabby Aviles and Nancy Espino were the main targets for long passes and attempts to attack Vela’s net.
“ Bend but don’t break” was the mantra for the SaberCats, who didn’t allow many clear looks at the goal. Keeper Joanna Corona, who went in after halftime, was aggressive on bouncing balls that were intended for North’s forwards.
“ We practice those all the time,” Cortez said. “I like my goalie to come out and play like an extra defender.
Vela’s backline might have been even more impactful than the keeper because North was unable to get behind the defense often, if at all.
Cortez specifically credited her group of Lauryn Cast, Geovanna Herandez, Alyssa Muniz and Danya Selber after the win.
“ My backline all played really hard, up to their level,” Cortez said. “They did a great job. They knew they had to step it up. They knew they had to play 200 percent and they did it.”
Vela scored their second goal via the counterattack. Sophomore Taylor Campbell had two chances on possessions around 4 minutes apart. On her first shot, North keeper Damaris Regalado made a strong save on the forward but was injured in the collision that followed.
On the second chance, Campbell wouldn’t be denied as she kept her legs moves to shoot past back-up Michel Garcia.
“ This team is like a level of team we’re going to play in the first round,” Campbell said. “With us coming out strong we knew we had to secure this win if not we were going to stay in third, but we’re ready (for playoffs) we’re good.”
North coach Tony Garcia said his team was up to the challenge.
“ We wanted to pick up the three points, but I leave comfortable with the effort my girls came out with,” Garcia said. “I told them, ‘It’s a playoff game and the team that makes the least mistakes is going to be the one that’s going to come out on top.’ We made two and it cost us.”
North will close out the regular season the week after next against Edinburg High. Vela has a Monday matchup against EHS before finishing with Weslaco East.