By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Winning district championships in soccer is pretty much an annual event for the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons.
They’ve captured the District 32-6A title again this season with a 9-1 record and 26 points, edging out second-place Harlingen South (8-2, 25 points).
It’s the Lady Falcons’ seventh conference crown in 10 seasons and their third in a row. It’s the third time Patricia K. Hernandez and assistant Juan Diego Luna have won district as the team’s coaches.
In 2016, Hernandez’s first season as the main coach after two years as an assistant, the Los Fresnos girls finished in a tie for second place with South behind district champion Lopez. A district championship streak for Los Fresnos began the following season.
The Lady Falcons are 17-5-3 overall this season. They are riding a five-match winning streak going into the Class 6A state playoffs, which begin Thursday.
“It’s a good feeling to have these seniors go out with a three-peat (as district champions),” Hernandez said. “These seniors have worked hard, and not just them, but the whole team. We weren’t really considered the ones to do this again when the season began and the rankings came out. It took a full team effort to be where we’re at right now.”
The Lady Falcons came into the 2019 season with five returning starters.
“We have had obviously solid leadership (from the more experienced players), and the younger players have bought into it,” Hernandez said. “The younger players have been open to the leadership that the older players have provided. A lot of the younger players who came in from middle school have been watching these older girls play. They’ve been in the stands (watching the games), and now they get to play for Los Fresnos.
“For a lot of these freshmen and sophomores, it’s a dream come true (to play on the varsity). They’ve watched the Lady Falcons as middle schoolers, and now they’re part of a championship team. It means a lot to them.”
One of the team’s top players providing strong leadership is Allison Spier, a senior central defender and team captain who has started all four years for the Lady Falcons.
She was the 32-6A MVP last season as a junior. Last month she signed to play soccer next school year at NCAA Division II Adelphi University in Adelphi, New York.
Spier is happy to complete her senior season as a district champion again.
“For me, this (district championship) is amazing because I’ve been working hard these four years, and to have an end like this (to the regular season) is just a real blessing,” Spier said. “As for the team, we’ve been working real hard all season, and we’ve built up momentum throughout every single game. I’m happy to see where this takes us in the playoffs.
“I think everybody on this team has a very good mentality,” she added. “We don’t give up. Every second of the game we’re pushing to get the ball and to better ourselves and our teammates. You see that in our practices, too. We help each other, we teach each other and we’re not afraid to speak our minds to help one another out to learn (to play better). I believe sharing our experiences ultimately makes us a better team.”
The Lady Falcons open the bi-district playoffs at 6 p.m. Friday at Edinburg High against the District 31-6A fourth-place Lady Bobcats.
“It’s great to see our girls just get better and better every year,” said Jocelyn Gaznares, a junior forward for the Lady Falcons. “Winning district is something we work for every day, and now to pick up the district trophy is just an indescribable feeling.
“One of the things that makes us successful is our bond, for sure,” Gaznares added. “We’re always there for each other. We play for one another. When someone is down, the others push them back up. It’s a combination of skill, motivation and drive for us. It just all comes together.”
It was a rare occurrence for the Lady Falcons one year ago when they were eliminated during the first round of the playoffs. They hope to do a lot better this time around.
“I believe with the heart on this team we can go to the Sweet 16 (of the regional tournament) again,” Gaznares said. “It takes hard work, but we can do it.”
Spier said as the team pushes forward, it greatly appreciates all the support it is receiving.
“I would like to say thank you to our coaches, our parents and all of our supporters,” she said. “We wouldn’t be here without you guys. I’m very proud of my teammates for all their hard work, and I’m excited to see where we go next (in the playoffs).”