By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
McALLEN — The Harlingen South Hawks scored early and late to win their Class 6A area-round soccer playoff game 4-1 Tuesday at McAllen Rowe.
The District 32-6A runner-up Hawks tallied their first goal with about 40 seconds gone during the opening half. The Hawks scored their fourth goal with 1:08 remaining.
In between, the South boys scored back-to-back goals within less than one minute early in the second half to take a commanding 3-1 advantage.
The score was 1-1 at intermission.
Isaac Garza, a sophomore forward for South, scored his team’s first goal from close range on a header. He scored South’s third goal (45th minute) with his foot.
Also for South, Eric Lopez Jr., a senior captain, had the second goal (44th minute) and Joaquin Ovalle, a freshman, had the final one.
“It felt good (to score so early in the game), and it was a surprise,” Garza said. “I was close (by the goal), and I kind of flicked the ball back with my head (and into the net).”
The Hawks have now won two games in the playoffs after waiting approximately 25 years to capture their first postseason victory.
“It’s very special to be with this team,” Garza said. “The first half we didn’t really play as a team, but the second half we really pulled through.”
South advances to play Brownsville Hanna, a come-from-behind 3-2 winner Tuesday against Laredo United South in the area playoffs.
The South-Hanna match is expected to be played Thursday or Friday at Brownsville Sports Park, site of the Region IV-6A Tournament. Details for the match are expected to be finalized today.
“I think we settled down and started playing our type of game in the second half,” South coach Julian Robles said. “It was an emotional thing (early in the match), and then we started using our heads a little better. Our game started to come through, and we started to see results.”
District 30-6A fourth-place Rowe’s lone goal was scored on a penalty kick by Brandon Vasquez during the 10th minute to eventually make it a 1-1 deadlock at intermission.
It was an area-round sweep for South’s girls and boys Tuesday at Rowe. Earlier, the Lady Hawks won their playoff game 3-0 against the Lady Warriors.