BROWNSVILLE — It has been an up-and-down District 32-5A campaign for the Brownsville Pace Vikings.
Points against playoff rivals were met with poor results from teams at the bottom of the table. Only three points separated the Vikings from last place coming into Tuesday night.
Needing a win against city rival Brownsville Veterans Memorial, the Vikings came through with a 3-2 victory to insert themselves back into the playoff race and are now only three points outside of the top four.
The Vikings are coming off a 2021-22 season in which they made the playoffs as a fourth seed. Brownsville Pace shocked a Valley View side in the bi-district round of the playoffs. Valley View was without North Texas SC’s Pablo Torre, but the Tigers were still a strong team despite their star player turning professional.
In 2022-23, it is a new head coach and a new philosophy for Brownsville Pace. Jose Reyes is at the helm now. Reyes comes in with 20 years coaching experience as an assistant, 11 years at San Benito and nine years at Brownsville Pace.
“We have a lot of potential to do something,” Reyes said. “Our goal is always to make the playoffs.”
Brownsville Porter, Brownsville Lopez, Brownsville Veterans and Brownsville Pace made it to the playoffs last season, but with the addition of Donna North and Harlingen South, a surging Weslaco East and Mid-Valley schools capable of picking up results, making it back to the playoffs out of District 32-5A is going to be a challenge.
“I know we can compete,” Emilio Cahuiche said. “We made it to the playoffs last year, so I think we can make it back.”
Cahuiche and Jovany Chavez are leading the Vikings in scoring during district play with four goals each, and they were on the mark Tuesday night against Brownsville Veterans.
“I like to surprise the defense with runs behind them,” Chavez said. “That is where most of my goals come from.”
Brownsville Pace senior Oscar Aldape also found the back of the net. Not a traditional forward like Chavez, Aldape is the utility type and prides himself on being able to help the team wherever he can. Aldape is a four-year letterman and the captain of the Vikings.
“I never expected to be captain,” Aldape said. “It is a big step for me.”
Junior Jose Marin plays the No. 10 role for the Vikings and has multiple assists in district, providing two against Donna North.
“There is always room for improvement,” Marin said. “But our coach, he works hard, and I think we will be good.”
The Vikings had to jell and adapt to his style of play, Reyes said when the Vikings were only three games into district play.
Now, with the last game of the first round beckoning and coming off a win against a team currently in the top four, the Vikings can add to their points tally when they face the Mercedes Tigers at 5:30 p.m. Friday at home.