By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
SAN BENITO — William Huerta is beginning his fourth season as the San Benito boys soccer coach with aspirations of getting the Greyhounds to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
The Greyhounds advanced to the postseason from District 32-6A last year for the first time since 2014. It was a brief playoff appearance as San Benito was ousted in the bi-district round by a strong Donna North team.
This time, there are seven returning starters back plus some other players who came off the bench last season.
The returning starters are Axel Rivera, Andy Mares, Tommy Diaz, Senovio Cerdan, David Davila, Jose Lucio and Yahir Reyes.
“I see this team as a very competitive team,” said Huerta, who celebrated his 46th birthday on Wednesday. “We have done a great job competing in all the games we have played. Our goal is to take a step forward and improve every game and every practice.
“These athletes have been working hard through the offseason and our non-district games, and their goal is to make it to the postseason and make a good run,” Huerta added. “We look forward to the challenges our district has to offer.”
District 32-6A play begins Jan. 31. The Greyhounds have two more non-district matches at home before starting 32-6A action.
They play host to Laredo Alexander on Friday and play host to Donna North next Tuesday.
HAWKS SEEKING ENCORE PERFORMANCE
The Harlingen South Hawks made news last season by winning a playoff game for the first time in the school’s history.
The Hawks actually won twice in the postseason last year with victories against Edinburg Economedes (3-2) and McAllen Rowe (4-1). They fell against Brownsville Hanna 4-2 during the third round of the playoffs and missed out on advancing to the Region IV-6A Tournament for the first time by one win.
Julian Robles returns as the Hawks’ coach and he welcomes back a strong group of experienced players.
Graduated are last year’s senior captains Jose Lerma, Angel Ortega and Eric Lopez Jr., but returning are a number of skilled players.
“I believe we have a talented roster with the two (all-district) newcomers of the year (last season) in Leo Torres (a junior) and Joaquin Ovalle (a sophomore),” Robles said. “Isaac Garza and Adrian Salazar, both juniors, come back as a forward and a midfielder after a breakout season last year.
“Luis Aguilar, a senior, and Carlos Hernandez, a junior, will try to maintain the midfield defensively,” Robles added. “Sophomores Ayden Hernandez and Alejandro Sanchez bring something to the table also as newcomers.
“It is still a tight race at goalkeeper between seniors Luis Beadle and Skylar Vasquez and junior Dustin Sanchez.”
The South coach said his current squad stands out in terms of speed.
“I can’t remember another Hawk team of the past with so much overall speed,” Robles said. “We have had a very tough preseason schedule. We knew the potential was high (for us to do well again in district, so we wanted to play challenging opponents in non-district).
“We still have some things to clean up, but we are moving in the right direction,” he added. “We want to be peaking at the right time (in district), and I think we will.”
The Hawks are coming off Tuesday’s 3-1 non-district win at Economedes. Their next action will be their 32-6A opener at Los Fresnos on Jan. 31.
DISTRICT 32-5A OPENERS
Friday marks the beginning of District 32-5A competition. Boys and girls varsity teams play doubleheaders with the boys playing at 5:30 p.m. and the girls to follow at 7:30 p.m.
Friday’s 32-5A schedule has Brownsville Pace at Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Brownsville Lopez at Edcouch-Elsa, Donna High at Brownsville Porter and Mercedes at Valley View.
District 32-6A play starts on Jan. 31. In District 32-4A, competition has already begun.