By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
The next generation of soccer players for the Porter Cowgirls has arrived.
The Cowgirls have a group of freshmen who have helped boost the team into sole possession of first place in District 32-5A.
Yes, it’s still very early in the district race, but thanks to Friday’s 4-1 win at Valley View, the Porter girls are 3-0 in 32-5A after a little more than one week of district competition.
Among the goal scorers Friday for the Cowgirls were freshmen Denisse Romero, Liberty Garza and America Rodriguez. Also scoring for Porter was Kassandra Demetrio, a senior.
Along with Romero and Garza, another freshman who is making an impact is forward/winger Keenia Palacios. All three are starters with Romero as a center midfielder/forward and Garza as a forward/winger. Rodriguez is another freshman who is contributing mainly off the bench as a defender.
“I’m really excited about having these girls on the team,” Cowgirls coach Abraham Gracia said. “It’s a good group to work with. They’re always here at practice, even on Saturdays when we practice. It’s really an unbelievable group. I couldn’t ask for anything else.
“There’s a lot of potential, hopefully for years to come,” Gracia added. “It’s nice to have them with us because we only have three seniors starting. (Besides the three seniors and three freshmen in the starting lineup) the rest are juniors and sophomores. Yes, there’s a lot of potential. I would just like them to keep working hard.”
It appeared the Porter girls might be hurting for goal scorers after the 2018 graduation of Priscila Cortinas, who finished her four-year high school varsity career with 100-plus goals. But the freshmen have helped ease the departure of the scoring standout who now plays at the college level.
“I feel very comfortable being on this team,” Romero said. “Everything is good. We’re continuing to work toward our goals. Our desire is to do the best we can in district.”
Added Palacios, “It’s a fun experience being with this team. In my opinion, the (Porter) teams before us were really good. They worked as a team (and had success), and I believe we’re working as a team, too. We’re working all together, and we depend on each other. We help each other out in everything we do. We’re working hard to reach our goals (of reaching the playoffs and doing well in the postseason).”
Prior to Friday’s 4-1 victory at Valley View, the Cowgirls recorded district wins against Donna High (2-0) and Mercedes (2-0).
Porter has a challenging week ahead. The Cowgirls play Tuesday at Lopez and are at home against Brownsville Veterans Memorial on Friday. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
The freshmen and their teammates welcome the challenge of the coming week and beyond. The Porter girls are seeking to advance to the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
“It feels really good (to be a freshman and to contribute on this team),” Garza said. “I feel proud of myself for being on the varsity team when I’m only at the freshman level. I’m getting to play against the older girls. It’s good competition, and that’s what I like.
“When we (as freshmen) mess up, the other girls are helping us out,” Garza added. “Our teammates are telling us what to do, or how to do it better.
“Our goal is to go to the playoffs and win. This is really a great team, and I’m proud to be part of it.”
(Courtesy photo by Jeniffer Quintanilla)