ROY HESS | Staff Writer
The Raymondville Bearkats are playing their best soccer in recent memory, at least as far as their current won-loss record goes.
So far, the Beakats are off to a 3-0 start in District 32-4A (5-1-3 overall) and are chasing their first district title in the sport. Raymondville is leading 32-4A.
The Bearkats are coming off Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime district win against Brownsville IDEA Frontier. Scoring goals for the Bearkats were Saul Garcia with two and Sage Gutierrez with one.
Robert Howell has been the Bearkats’ coach for nine years now. Overall, he has 20 years of experience as a soccer coach.
When asked if this is the best team the Raymondville boys have had, Howell said, “I will say that this year’s edition of the Raymondville Bearkat soccer team has been really exciting during every match that our team has experienced. Our team this year has really been focusing on every match that we play and remembering what our goal is every time we step on the field. That goal, of course, is to make it back to the state playoffs after making (only) a first-round appearance last year.”
Raymondville suffered an early playoff exit in a 7-0 loss against state tournament qualifier Progreso one season ago.
“This year’s team is special in the fact that the seniors and I have been together in the classroom and on the soccer field for most of their years in middle and high school,” Howell said. “Personally, this year for me will be difficult to have to say goodbye at the end of the (school) year when the seniors graduate and move on to the next phases of their lives.”
Among the players on the roster this season for the Bearkats besides Garcia and Gutierrez are Jose Salazar, Jesus Cortez, Yahir Gonzalez, Juan Muniz, Justin Smith and Francisco Lugo.
“Overall, we aim to be a force in District 32-4A this season and beyond,” Howell said.
ONE TO CELEBRATE
Winning in Brownsville in soccer hasn’t always been easy for the Harlingen High Cardinals.
Yet, Tuesday marked a night to remember as the Cardinals came away with a 1-0 victory after playing at Brownsville Hanna. It was a win that notched the Cardinals’ first District 32-6A victory of the season.
A goal on a header by Jesus Berlanga during the second half accounted for the only score of the match, and it lifted the Cardinals to victory.
“This win just keeps us motivated to get better every day,” Cardinals coach Johnny Guillen said. “We have to stay humble and keep grinding. It’s a long district with great teams playing every week.”
Guillen said standouts for the Cardinals against Hanna in gaining the shutout victory included Luis Garcia, Jacob Garza, Shaun Handy and Jose Medina.
A VERY CLOSE 32-6A
Nothing could be closer than the 32-6A boys standings after two game dates. All six teams are 1-1 with three points each after Tuesday’s boys results. Harlingen South beat San Benito 5-2 and Brownsville Rivera topped Los Fresnos 2-0 along with Harlingen High’s 1-0 result against Hanna.
On the girls side, thanks to its 1-0 win against Harlingen High on Tuesday, Brownsville Hanna leads 32-6A with a 2-0 record and six points. Behind the Lady Golden Eagles are Los Fresnos (2-0, five points), Harlingen South (1-1, four points), Harlingen High (1-1, three points) and Rivera and San Benito (each 0-2 with no points).
Concerning the girls district race at this point, Lady Falcons coach Patricia K. Hernandez said, “We knew that Hanna and Rivera were on fire in the preseason. We knew it was going to be a tough start (in district) for us with fewer schools now (six instead of eight). We also know we have to have our ‘A’ game (every night), and we can’t afford any losses.
“For us right now, it’s consistency,” Hernandez added. “We just have to be consistent every step of the way.”
The Lady Falcons face another big challenge at Harlingen High at 5:30 p.m. Friday. Other 32-6A girls games at 5:30 p.m. Friday will find Hanna at San Benito and Harlingen South at Rivera.
Those same matchups exist for the boys on Friday with their games starting at 7:30 p.m.