By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Jose Lerma, Angel Ortega and Eric Lopez Jr. have been reliable, productive soccer players for the Harlingen South Hawks for most, if not all, their high school years.
They are leading the team as senior captains this season.
Lerma has been on the varsity as a starter all four years. Ortega and Lopez are three-year members of the varsity and two-year starters for the Hawks.
South coach Julian Robles appreciates having the three seniors on the team because a majority of the players this season are underclassmen. In all, only five seniors are on the roster for the Hawks.
“Right now, the biggest thing they are giving us is leadership,” Robles said. “These guys have been there when we’ve made the playoffs in the past. Their leadership is really needed because it’s a different team now. There are a lot of sophomores.
“They’ve gotten the team closer together, and they try to encourage the players,” the Hawks coach added. “They also try to help the younger players get better. They’ve been through our good times and our bad times, and they’ve seen both sides. To have their experience and stability is huge for us.
“It’s really important right now because we have a young group. Their overall work ethic is second to none.”
The Hawks are trying to return to the playoffs after missing out on the postseason last season. They’re playing in an ultra-competitive six-team District 32-6A, which began district play Friday night. South was edged 2-1 at home by Los Fresnos in its 32-6A opener.
The Hawks have a chance to rebound when they play their next district game at home Tuesday against San Benito.
The three captains all feel it’s a priority to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and make the most of their senior season.
“I think one of the most important things we’re doing this year is talking to each other and communicating the way we want to play together,” said Lopez, a fullback/midfielder. “We correct our mistakes and change our style of play (when necessary) without getting mad at each other.
“It’s like forming a union, a brotherhood, and coming closer together,” Lopez added. “It’s an honor, it really is, to play for this team. We’re coming off our non-district games and starting our district schedule now. We’re starting to really show up, and we’re trying to be as good as we possibly can be. We’re only going to get better from here on.”
Lerma, a four-year starter at forward, said he and his fellow captains are trying to enhance the unity of the team, particularly this season since there are so many younger players on the squad.
“It’s always been like a family all the four years that I’ve played here,” said Lerma, who was also the kicker on the South football team this past fall. “To play together with the guys that I’ve grown up with makes it even better. We’re a big family, and I wouldn’t trade this team for anything else.
“(As captains) we let the team know to work hard and to show up when it’s time (to play our best),” Lerma added. “It’s just like when their older brothers played for this team. They (and others) taught me you have to work hard to get what you want.
“We’re working hard every single day, and we’re going to keep working hard until we get what we want. This is our redemption year.”
Ortega, a center defender, is one of the current South players who had an older brother that played for the Hawks. That brother’s name is Brian Ortega, and he graduated from South in 2014.
“It’s a big privilege to play for this team,” Angel Ortega said. “Growing up and watching my brother play for this team was great, and now I’m following in his footsteps. We’ve been playing soccer since we were small, so this is our dream of playing together. It’s a good thing.
“Everything we do, the other players are going to look to us (for leadership) as the captains,” he added. “We have to set the standards on this team high. We have to do things right and show everyone on the team the right way. We’re trying to build the team chemistry and have unity on and off the field.
“We want to be not just friends, but brothers, because that’s what it is all about.”
(Courtesy photo by Harlingen South soccer)