Huskies run wild over Falcons in LJ tourney
NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
LA JOYA — Sometimes group matches in early-season tournaments have minimal long-term significance. They can be seen as an opportunity to experiment with lineups, to acclimate newcomers to varsity and fine-tune the group for the looming district schedule or just a fun bonding experience in first few weeks of the soccer season.
Not for La Joya Juarez-Lincoln girls soccer who seem to be on a mission in January. On Thursday afternoon they continued their torrid start to the 2019 season with a 5-2 win over Los Fresnos to improve to 11-0 on the young campaign.
“More than anything the biggest challenge we told the girls ‘If you want to be the best, you have to be able to beat the best,’’ Huskies coach Ricardo Garza said after the win. “This year, if you look at our game schedule every team we’ve been able to play has been a competitive team that is a playoff type of team. Teams that go two rounds deep, three rounds deep.”
Both teams were playing their second game on Thursday after each enjoyed similar blowout wins in matchday one of the La Joya ISD tournament.
The Huskies powered past San Benito 5-0 in the morning and the Falcons were fresh off an 8-0 performance over Rio Grande City right before facing Juarez.
The Huskies took advantage of the Falcons wear legs and took control of the match early. First, they peppered Los Fresnos keeper Sabrina Hinojosa before breaking the ice midway through the first half with a goal from sophomore Ashley Segura who connected on Sophia Castillo’s corner kick.
The game’s opening tally acted as an invitation for Juarez-Lincoln to open the floodgates. Just seven minutes later sophomore Pricila Hernandez sent a free-kick from the football 20-yard line over the head of Hinojosa.
Junior Melanie Olivares scored the Huskies third goal with a pass to herself followed by a strong individual effort to run by the defender and place the ball inside the far post.
Olivares is part of a small group on the team that’s already completed two years of high school. The Huskies core is heavy with sophomores and freshmen.
“Juniors should set an example right?” Olivares said. “But I believe just as we act like juniors they don’t act like freshmen. They’re being mature about it, they aren’t joking around as freshmen usually do.”
Olivares wasn’t done with goal scoring. She scored the Huskies fourth goal by punishing the Falcons inability to clear the ball out of a dangerous area.
Juarez’s pressure was constant all game. Limiting the Falcons time on the ball for most of the game.
Freshman Stephanie Jimenez was noticeable all game with positioning and powerful clears despite her small frame.
“It all starts with the goalie,” Olivares said. “It’s necessary to have a good goalie. The defense is always there, you can’t pass them and the midfielders are the ones that get the ball to use. We just do our job.”
Hernandez also had a strong game on offense. After the well-placed free kick tally, she added a second-half strike to push the lead back to 5-1.
The skilled sophomore is playing in a more natural position compared to last year thanks to the influx of young talent.
“Because of the incoming freshman they are helping out the team where we can make those positional changes,” Hernandez said through a translator. “Last year I played midfield more, now I’m playing up top so I feel more comfortable with the other forwards. Now we’re playing better as a team.”
Los Fresnos avoided a shutout with a shot off the foot of Allison Spier that bounced high over the head and out of the read of Juarez-Lincoln keeper Jennifer Perez. Falcons senior Itzel Bochas scored the game’s last goal to round out the 5-2 final.
“Los Fresnos has always had a very good program but we always tell the athletes. ‘Big games call for big athletes’ everyone played big today.” Garza said.
Juarez-Lincoln will try to return to the playoffs in an ultra-competitive district 30-6A starting later this month.
“It’s a very difficult district and even within the good we still have to polish up in different areas,” Garza said. “We can’t be complacent, especially at halftime because there are always two halves to a game.”