By ROY HESS
Staff Writer
After such an eventful 2018 season of UIL girls soccer in the Rio Grande Valley, it will be interesting to see how things unfold during 2019 as the new season gets underway this week.
Some of the highlights from one season ago included McAllen High becoming the first girls team from the Valley to advance to the state tournament in Georgetown, plus Rivera’s girls reaching the regional tournament for the first time. The Lady Raiders joined Lopez and Hanna as the only girls teams from Brownsville to accomplish such a feat in soccer.
Also, the Pace Lady Vikings enjoyed one of their most successful seasons. It included a District 32-5A championship with a 14-0 record and a 28-2-1 mark overall after advancing three rounds in the playoffs.
What is the expectation for 2019? Another strong showing, of course.
For the majority of local girls teams, the season opens Thursday at the Brownsville ISD Tournament. The three-day tournament will feature 24 teams and be played at six sites. BISD Tournament sites are Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Pace, Rivera, Hanna, Sams Memorial Stadium and Brownsville Sports Park.
McAllen Memorial defeated Pace 2-1 in last year’s tournament final. There will be a new tournament champion this year since the Lady Mustangs are not returning.
Here is a team-by-team look at girls squads in the Metro area, which includes Brownsville, Los Fresnos and Port Isabel:
DISTRICT 32-6A
RIVERA LADY RAIDERS
Last season, the Lady Raiders came on strong near the end of 32-6A competition by winning six of their last eight district matches. From there, they won three games in the playoffs, including a come-from-behind 3-2 area-round triumph at McAllen Memorial in which they trailed 2-0 with 18 minutes remaining.
Peter A. Rodriguez, the Lady Raiders’ coach for the past two years, stepped down and has been replaced by his former assistant, Eduardo Torres.
The new coach welcomes back an experienced group of players, as only three seniors graduated from last year’s team.
When asked who he considers the top players coming back, Torres said, “My response would be the following: It’s the easiest hardest question I’ve had to answer in some time. Every player on our team is crucial in obtaining our goals. On the other hand, (just) like in most cases, the players that take the lead are the ones with the most experience. Rivera Lady Raider soccer is blessed to have seniors this year that have answered the call and are serving as beacons for the rest of the team.”
One of the Rivera standouts from 2018 who is not expected back is Brigitte Iglesias. She was named All-Metro and all-district newcomer last season as a sophomore. Otherwise, the Lady Raiders should have six or seven players with experience as starters.
HANNA LADY GOLDEN EAGLES
The objective for the Lady Eagles this season will be to return to the playoffs after a one-year absence. They missed out on a trip to the postseason last year after tying for fifth place in 32-6A.
Eliseo Guzman is beginning his third season as Hanna’s coach.
He said the team’s top players include Sytlaly Loyde, Angelina Castillo, Pamela Prado, Hilary Pina, Abby Mata and Valeria Perez. Mata and Perez are goalkeepers. Loyde was the co-offensive player of the year in 32-6A last season.
LOS FRESNOS LADY FALCONS
Patricia K. Hernandez is starting her fourth year of guiding the Lady Falcons, who won 32-6A last season with a 12-2 record.
While it was the sixth time in nine years the team won district, the Los Fresnos girls suffered a rare early setback in the playoffs. They lost their bi-district match 1-0 at PSJA High.
One of the top players back for the Lady Falcons is Allison Spier, a senior who played mostly defender last season and was named the overall MVP in 32-6A.
Hernandez said the team’s other top returning players include Itzel Bochas, Sabrina Hinojosa and Brianna Gracia.
DISTRICT 32-5A
PORTER COWGIRLS
The Cowgirls are riding high after making the playoffs during each of the past three seasons under Abraham Gracia, who is entering his 12th year as their coach. The Porter girls went 9-5 in 32-5A last year and placed third.
The Cowgirls figure to have quite a bit of experience, particularly on defense with returning players Quetzali Cortez, Roxanna Miranda and Marina Rios, who are all defenders. Cortez was the defensive player of the year in 32-5A last season. Miranda and Rios received first-team all-district recognition.
Another experienced returning player is forward Azaneth Perez. Other returning players are Sofia Contreras, Kassandra Demetrio, Jacqueline Gonzalez, Jeanette Aguirre, Jazmine Reyna, Janie Gutierrez and Ana Meza.
Newcomers who could help include Denise Romero, Liberty Garza, Keenia Palacios and America Rodriguez.
One player who will be missed is standout scorer Priscila Cortinas, who graduated and now is playing in college.
BROWNSVILLE VETERANS LADY CHARGERS
The Lady Chargers will attempt to improve upon last season’s fourth-place finish in 32-5A with an 8-6 record.
Luis Troncoso returns as the coach. He lost standout scorer Samantha Bodden (50 goals last season, 94 for her career) to graduation, but still has a talented group coming back.
Among the returnees are forward/midfielders Kaylyn Maradiaga and Arely Guzman. Maradiaga is coming off knee surgery, and Guzman is a three-year starter.
Other players back include defenders Andrea Hurtado and Kennidy Rudd, midfielders Camila Trevino and Hanna Obregon, and goalkeeper Karime Benavides.
LOPEZ LADY LOBOS
Like many other teams, the Lady Lobos want to get back to the playoffs. In 2018, the Lopez girls had their streak ended of making trips to the postseason after earning district titles the previous two years. They won 32-6A in 2016 and 32-5A in 2017.
Alex Macias returns as the Lady Lobos’ coach. He said the team’s top returning players include Corina Garcia, Myrka Garcia, Zayra Esquivel, Kenya Gonzalez and Adamaris Rangel. Esquivel and Myrka Garcia earned first-team all-district honors last season.
PACE LADY VIKINGS
The Lady Vikings will try to improve upon their strong showing of 2018.
Gone is Kryssie Rivera (56 goals for the 2018 season, 127 for her career). Rivera was last season’s All-Metro and all-district MVP. She graduated and signed to play in college. Also gone is Alma Perez (101 career assists).
Jesus O. Villarreal is back as the Lady Vikings’ coach.
Among those expected back for the Lady Vikings this season is Alexis Guajardo, who was the All-Metro utility player last year as a junior. Her primary position is attacking midfielder. She was the All-Metro newcomer as a freshman in 2016. Guajardo was a first-team all-district pick at forward last season as well.
OTHERS
PORT ISABEL LADY TARPONS
Jesus Cardenas is beginning his seventh season as the Lady Tarpons’ coach.
The Port Isabel girls have made the playoffs during each of their previous six seasons playing under Cardenas. They finished third in District 31-4A last season.
“We are still trying to jell,” Cardenas said. “Overall, half the team is new to a starting role or a new position.
“We just need to get game experience,” he added. “I love the dedication that the girls are showing. They have very good chemistry off the field, which should transfer to their play on the field. We want to improve every game and be ready for district.”
Among the top players back are Celia Polsky in the midfield, Diana Gonzalez on defense, and Valeria Gonzalez and Sabrina Gonzalez at forward. Also back is forward/midfielder Juliann Hernandez.
The Lady Tarpons will be playing in District 32-4A this season.
JUBILEE BROWNSVILLE LADY TITANS
The Lady Titans are coached by Cesar Arizmendi and compete in the Texas Charter School Academic and Athletic League.
Top players for 2019 include defenders Sandy Garza, Julissa Garza and Alejandra Perez, along with Andy Parker, who Arizmendi says is a standout at goalkeeper. Other ones to watch include utility player Corina Arizmendi, forward Luz Gallegos, and midfielders Sofia De La Torre and Erica Parker. Andrea Escudero is the team captain.
IDEA FRONTIER LADY CHARGERS
Brittany Hernandez is the Lady Chargers’ second-year coach. IDEA Frontier plays in 32-4A along with Port Isabel, Brownsville IDEA Riverside and five other schools.
Underclassmen who played for the Lady Chargers last season were Vanessa Hernandez, Samantha Franco and Aylinn Perez.