By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE – Brownsville Hanna Golden Eagles goalkeeper Raul Lopez will continue his playing career next season in Kansas, joining Bethany College.
“I feel really excited,” Lopez said during a signing ceremony Monday at Hanna’s new gym. “It is a great opportunity to study and play the sport I love for the next few years. All of the hard work that I have put in during high school have paid off.”
Lopez’s mother, Nora Carrillo, accompanied her son to the event and could not be happier for her son.
“I am proud of his accomplishments,” Carrillo said. “Ever since he was little he spoke about playing in college, and now that he is accomplishing his goals I am proud of him.”
The 2021 District 32-6A keeper of the year has not visited the campus in Lindsborg, Kan., but plans on visiting after the season.
“I have been speaking to the coach, and he has done well to communicate expectations. I am excited,” Lopez said.
Lopez and the Eagles will finish their district season this week.
“The season has gone good so far,” he said. “We still need to work on some things, but it has gone well. We hope that we can make a good run in the playoffs and go far.”
The senior has worked really hard to get to this point, coach Reyes Prado said.
“As a freshman, he started practicing with us, we made the playoffs and he has been starting with us ever since,” Prado said. “It shows that hard work pays off.”
Lopez will be competing at the NAIA level while with the Swedes.