ROY HESS | Staff Writer
The Pace Lady Vikings are developing a soccer connection with the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley.
Marcela “Marcy” Garza has become the latest soccer player with the Lady Vikings to sign to play for the UTRGV women’s team next school year.
Garza’s signing was announced earlier this month by UTRGV. Pace held a signing ceremony in her honor Wednesday at the school auditorium.
It was just last February that 2018 Pace graduate Krissie Rivera became the first Lady Vikings soccer girl to sign with UTRGV.
Now, Garza, a senior midfielder and two-year starter for the Lady Vikings, will be joining Rivera next fall to play for the Vaqueros at the NCAA Division I school in Edinburg.
“Honestly, it means the world to me (to sign with UTRGV),” said Garza, a Brownsville native who transferred to Pace from San Antonio Brandeis before her junior year. “This is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little girl. Now that it’s coming true, I’m practically speechless and I’m very happy.”
Garza, a straight-A student, began playing soccer at age 3.
“That (soccer) ball has been with me throughout my whole life,” said Garza, who plans to study psychology in college. “It will continue to be with me throughout college as well, so I’m very excited.”
Lady Vikings coach Jesus O. Villarreal said he hopes there will be more Pace soccer players signing with UTRGV in the future.
“I’m happy for Marcy, and at the same time as a coach, I’m very proud,” Villarreal said. “For the Pace (girls soccer) program, this is the second signing (with UTRGV), and it shows us this is a (recruiting) zone for girls soccer. If colleges look in the right place at the right moment, there is talent to be found, and not just here (at Pace), but all over Brownsville.
“We were blessed to have Krissie sign last year and now we’re blessed to have Marcy sign,” he added. “I believe there are more (signings) to come.”
Garza said she came to know Rivera while playing in Brownsville Opportunity Youth Soccer Association leagues as a young girl. Now their friendship will continue as teammates at UTRGV.
“I’m very blessed, and actually, beyond blessed,” Garza said. “My parents (Greg and Jessica Nieto), all my family, my friends, my teammates, the coaches and everyone have helped me along the way to become the person I am today.”
32-6A ACTION BEGINS
Teams in District 32-6A start competition with girls (5:30 p.m.) and boys (7:30 p.m.) doubleheaders on Friday.
The first night for matches finds Hanna at Rivera, Los Fresnos at Harlingen South and Harlingen High at San Benito.
The Rivera Lady Raiders advanced to the Region IV-6A Tournament for the first time one year ago. They’re ready to make another run for the postseason in 2019 under new coach Eduardo Torres.
Torres said going against Hanna presents a strong city rivalry to start things off.
“I feel that there is no better team to go against in the district opener,” he said. “My girls are excited, ready and definitely looking forward to playing Hanna on Friday.”
Another new coach in the district is Matt Molina, who is directing the Los Fresnos boys.
The Falcons tuned up for Friday’s 32-6A opener at South by defeating San Benito IDEA 4-0 on Tuesday.
Molina said he sees his team as ready to begin district play, and added his players are looking forward to playing the games that count in the district standings.
LOOK WHO’S 2-0
The Porter Cowgirls and Lopez Lady Lobos have jumped out to the lead in the District 32-5A girls race with 2-0 records.
The Cowgirls are coming off Tuesday’s 2-0 win at home against Mercedes, while the Lady Lobos won on the road 2-0 at Valley View the same night. In their 32-5A openers last week, Porter defeated Donna High 2-0 and Lopez downed Edcouch-Elsa 4-1.
“It’s a tough district,” Cowgirls coach Abraham Gracia said. “Our girls are off to a good start. We still have a couple of things we need to tweak, but in weeks to come, I feel we’ll just be getting better and better.
“We have a very young group, actually, with only three seniors,” he added. “We’re proud of these girls. We just need to work on some things a little bit more. It’s a very good group that is very dedicated and very committed. I can’t ask for anything else.”
The Cowgirls are at Valley View on Friday, while the Lady Lobos are at Pace the same night.