By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE — Alise Garza made a goal she will never forget.
It was a goal that lifted the Harlingen South Lady Hawks into next week’s Region IV-6A Tournament.
Garza scored with seven and a half minutes remaining from just in front of the goal while falling down as the Lady Hawks won Friday’s Class 6A regional quarterfinal soccer match 1-0 against McAllen High at Brownsville Sports Park.
Garza received a long pass by teammate Stephanie Torres from the left side of the field and controlled the ball with only the McHi goalkeeper between her and the net. Even though she was falling down after the ball went off her chest, Garza got off a shot that found the mark to set off a roar of approval from the South faithful.
“I saw the goalkeeeper coming out, and I knew I had a chance to beat her,” said Garza, a senior forward. “I timed it just right on the slide, and I definitely got it right because it went in. I chested the ball (as I received the pass), I saw it rolling and I knew I had a chance (to score). I just tapped it in.
“It’s such a blessing (to see us win),” Garza added. “We’ve worked so hard this season practicing in the hot sun and everything. Just going out there, and being able to score that goal and move on in the playoffs with our team, it’s really an honor.”
District 32-6A runner-up South (22-3) moves on to the fourth round of the 6A playoffs and plays in the regional tournament semifinals next Friday at BSP.
McHi (20-4-3) ends its season as the District 30-6A champion after becoming the first Rio Grande Valley girls team to advance to the UIL state tournament in soccer last season.
“Our girls played their hearts out, but it was South’s night,” McHi coach Pat Arney said. “Obviously, we’re disappointed.
“One of our girls said she thinks what we did last year (by getting to state) gave all the other Valley teams confidence that they could do it, too,” Arney added. “I agree with her, and it’s just the way things are now. It’s great to see for Valley (girls) soccer.”
Lady Hawks coach Omar Pedroza said he was pleased with the effort of his team.
“That’s what (a full game of) 80 minutes of soccer looks like,” Pedroza said. “I don’t think we’ve played 80 minutes of soccer so far (this season until tonight). We’ve actually been getting away with winning games by playing only 40 minutes or so.
“Today, I told the girls, ‘If we play (only) 40 minutes of soccer, we
aren’t going to be back out here next week (at the regional tournament),'” Pedroza added. “We needed a full 80 minutes to beat a good team like McHi. Sure enough, we finally played 80 minutes of soccer tonight.”