EDINBURG — The La Joya Juarez-Lincoln and Edinburg Vela girls soccer teams took turns all night Monday making runs on goal.
With two differing styles of offense, Juarez-Lincoln looked often for the long ball breakaway while Edinburg Vela looked like the “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers of the ’80s, running the ball up field like a fast break.
Despite the high-flying action, no one scored.
In the end, however, a set play led to a header by the Huskies’ Stephanie Jimenez, a senior, during the 63rd minute of play and the only ball to reach the back of the net and Juarez-Lincoln remained unbeaten and in sole possession of first place in District 31-6A with a 1-0 victory over Vela at Richard R. Flores Stadium.
Jimenez, the team’s leading scorer, took a free kick from Kayla Torres from about 25 yards to register the game’s only goal.
The win improves Juarez-Lincoln to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in district play. Vela is now 4-1-1 in district Vela winning in penalty kicks against Edinburg High.
While many teams would immediately send their entire team to the defensive side if the field after scoring one goal, the Huskies kept the pressure on, almost burying another goal with less than 10 minutes remaining.
“That’s our style. To attack and attack and attack,” Juarez-Lincoln head coach Arnoldo Cardenas. “We sent a lot of balls up front and were able to score thankfully.”
Both teams made multiple runs and had opportunities to break onto the scoreboard the entire night. Vela had two shots that were nearly point blank but one was saved by the Huskies’ ’keeper, and the other flew wide.
From the beginning, it looked as if this game would be a shootout as each team made runs, gaining possession of the ball and making a beeline toward the opponent’s goal. Not much came easy, however, as each squad played physical. At one point there were five or six players sprawled out after his checks, sliding tackles or other physical aggression.
“They were controlling the ball a little when we started so we made some adjustments and moved some girls around,” Cardenas said. “It worked. This was a game the girls were talking about since last year because Vela is a great team. I told them let’s just play one game at a time.
The SaberCats also had a great attempt after being down. Bailey Gonzales took a free kick from about 25 yards. The ball was deflected and another SaberCats player took a shot that went over the crossbar, preserving the Hiuskies’ lead.
TGCA RANKINGS
McAllen Rowe (9-0-0) climbed to No. 9 in the latest Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 5A state poll, following a win in PKs over perennial power and district champion McAllen High and a 2-1 victory over Sharyland High.
Brownsville Porter (12-2-2) came in at No. 20.
La Joya Juarez-Lincoln made its debut in the Class 6A poll, entering tied at No. 20.