By STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE – Jose Garcia scored twice to lift Harlingen High over Brownsville St. Joseph Academy 2-1 on a warm and muggy Wednesday night.
Garcia’s first goal came at the 14-minute mark of the first half with the Cardinals trailing 1-0 after the Bloodhounds tabbed the game’s first goal off the boot of Salomon Najera four minutes earlier.
His second – the game-winner – came with four and a half minutes to play in the second half. Like his first strike, he sent the ball into the left side of the goal, but instead of going top shelf, he opted to chip the ball low and away on a sharp angle.
“We try to give (Garcia) the ball in space because he’s a three-year starter with a lot of speed and a lot of potential,” Harlingen High coach Johnny Guillen said.
The victory was the first of seven games the Cardinals are set to play in a span of three days.
SJA goalkeeper Francisco De La Garza made several key saves in a half Harlingen High dominated possession but failed to capitalize on its quality chances in front of the net.
In the 19th minute of the first half, Skylen Perez dribbled and juked his way into a 1-on-1 opportunity with De La Garza, who gloved the line drive from about 10 feet away.
The Cardinals’ Zach Munoz had a free kick clear the crossbar and Lucas Zepeda also airmailed another close-range chance.
“I’m proud of these kids and the way they came out,” Guillen said. “We switched our midfield around and to me we controlled the midfield. We played very physical, but they’re a great team as well. … (SJA) did a great job.”
At the 13-minute mark, an accurate through ball by Perez gave Garcia a breakaway chance, but he too managed to lift the ball above the goal.
SJA’s best chance to take the lead came when the Bloodhounds tried a long ball for Antonio Garza that was kicked just out of his reach with five and a half minutes to go in the first half.
Perez took a short corner kick for Harlingen and tried to give the Cardinals the lead himself, but his shot attempt was launched from an awkward angle and the ball struck the side of the net.
The Bloodhounds and Cardinals went into the half tied at 1-1.
SJA’s defense helped prolong the deadlock, as their “wall” blocked Perez’s free kick with 15 minutes to go.
The Bloodhounds’ Pedro Cardenas tackled Perez to prevent a breakaway goal and so the Cardinals were awarded a penalty kick with 6:45 to go in the second half.
Jacob Garza took the penalty shot for Harlingen High and De La Garza dove into the lower right corner of the goal to deflect it away.
St. Joseph Academy assistant coach Pedro Cardenas said he thought the game was a good building block for the Bloodhounds to learn from moving forward as they focus on their next big district contest at Laredo St. Augustine at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
“I think our kids showed a lot of heart,” Cardenas said. “We’re getting ready for district and I think this is a good step to get there.”