BOYS

Tuesday, Mar. 17

District 30-6A

La Joya Palmview 3, McAllen Memorial 1

La Joya High at McAllen Rowe, not reported

Mission High at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, not reported

District 31-6A

Edinburg North 3, PSJA Memorial 1

Edinburg High at Weslaco East, not reported

Weslaco High at Edinburg Economedes, not reported

District 31-5A

Valley View 4, Roma 1

Sharyland High 7, Rio Grande City 1

Mission Veterans at Edinburg Vela, not reported

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 6, Mercedes 0

Donna High 2, Donna North 1, PKs

Brownsville Porter 7, PSJA High 0

Brownsville Pace 6, Edcouch-Elsa 1

District 31-4A

Hidalgo at Raymondville, not reported

District 32-4A

Brownsville IDEA Frontier at La Feria, not reported

Progreso at Port Isabel, not reported

Thursday, Mar. 19

District 30-6A

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at La Joya High, 7:30 p.m.

McAllen Memorial at Mission High, 8 p.m.

McAllen High at La Joya Palmview, 8 p.m.

Friday, Mar. 20

District 31-6A

PSJA North at Edinburg High, 6 p.m.

Weslaco East at Weslaco High, 6 p.m.

Edinburg Economedes at Edinburg North, 6 p.m.

District 32-6A

Brownsville Veterans Memorial at Brownsville Lopez, 7:15 p.m.

San Benito at Brownsville Rivera, 7:15 p.m.

Brownsville Hanna at Los Fresnos, 7:15 p.m.

Harlingen High at Harlingen South, 7:15 p.m.

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest at Brownsville Pace, 5:30 p.m.

Donna North at PSJA High, 6 p.m.

Edcouch-Elsa at Donna High, 6 p.m.

Mercedes at Brownsville Porter, 6 p.m.

Tuesday’s Games

District 30-6A

LA JOYA PALMVIEW 3, McALLEN MEMORIAL 1

La Joya Palmview 2 1 — 3

McAllen Memorial 1 0 — 1

La Joya Palmview (3): Luis Rodriguez 1, Jose Carmona 1, Lazaro Hernandez 1

MCALLEN MEMORIAL (1): Julian Alvarez 1

RECORDS: La Joya Palmview (8-3); McAllen Memorial (4-7)

District 31-6A

EDINBURG NORTH 3, PSJA MEMORIAL 1

Edinburg North 1 2 — 3

PSJA Memorial 1 0 — 1

EDINBURG NORTH (3): Esteban Lopez 1, Diego Sanchez 1, Jose Martinez 1

PSJA MEMORIAL (1): Not reported

RECORDS: Edinburg North (10-1); PSJA Memorial (4-8)

District 31-5A

VALLEY VIEW 4, ROMA 1

Roma 0 1 — 1

Valley View 1 3 — 4

VALLEY VIEW (4): Gerardo Garza 2, Mario Gomez 1, Evan Alonzo 1

ROMA (1): Not reported

RECORDS: Valley View (10-2); Roma (4-8)

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 6, MERCEDES 0

Mercedes 0 0 — 0

PSJA Southwest 3 3 — 6

PSJA SOUTHWEST (6): Michael Martin 2, Uriel Garcia 1, Ivan Calderon 1, Miguel Vasquez 1, Jesus Acosta 1

RECORDS: PSJA Southwest (9-4); Mercedes (5-8)

GIRLS

Monday, March 16

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe 4, La Joya High 0

Tuesday, March 17

District 30-6A

McAllen Memorial 8, La Joya Palmview 0

Mission High at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, not reported

District 31-6A

Edinburg North 5, PSJA Memorial 0

Edinburg Economedes 3, Weslaco High 0

Edinburg High at Weslaco East, not reported

District 31-5A

Sharyland High 10, Rio Grande City 0

Valley View at Roma, not reported

Edinburg Vela at Mission Veterans, not reported

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 3, Mercedes 0

Brownsville Porter 3, PSJA High 0

Brownsville Pace 2, Edcouch-Elsa 1

Donna North 3, Donna High 1

District 31-4A

Hidalgo at Raymondville, not reported

Thursday, March 19

District 30-6A

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at La Joya High, 6 p.m.

Friday, March 20

District 30-6A

McAllen Memorial at Mission High, 6 p.m.

McAllen High at La Joya Palmview, 6 p.m.

District 31-6A

Edinburg Economedes at Edinburg North, 8 p.m.

Weslaco East at Weslaco High, 7:30 p.m.

PSJA North at Edinburg High, 7:30 p.m.

District 32-6A

Brownsville Lopez at Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 7:15 p.m.

Brownsville Rivera at San Benito, 7:15 p.m.

Los Fresnos at Brownsville Hanna, 7:15 p.m.

Harlingen South at Harlingen High, 7:15 p.m.

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest at Brownsville Pace, 7 p.m.

Donna North at PSJA High, 7 p.m.

Mercedes at Brownsville Porter, 7:30 p.m.

Edcouch-Elsa at Donna High, 7:30 p.m.

Monday’s Game

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe 4, LA JOYA HIGH 0

La Joya High 0 0 — 0

McAllen Rowe 2 2 — 4

McAllen Rowe (4): Sarah Rodriguez 4

RECORDS: McAllen Rowe (8-4); La Joya High (0-11)

Tuesday’s Games

District 30-6A

McAllen Memorial 8,

La Joya Palmview 0

La Joya Palmview 0 0 — 0

McAllen Memorial 4 4 — 8

MCALLEN MEMORIAL (4): Daisy Robles 3, Cameron Alaniz 2, Alyssa Adriano 1, Connie Avila 1, Leslie Flores 1

RECORDS: McAllen Memorial (10-1); La Joya Palmview (3-8)

District 31-6A

EDINBURG NORTH 5, PSJA MEMORIAL 0

Edinburg North 2 3 — 5

PSJA Memorial 0 0 — 0

EDINBURG NORTH (5): Gloria Gutierrez 3, Itzamar Rios 2

RECORDS: Edinburg North (11-0); PSJA Memorial (5-7)

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES 3,

WESLACO HIGH 0

Weslaco High 0 0 — 0

Edinburg Economedes 1 2 — 3

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES (3): Ayssa Ozuna 1, Sofia Hernandez 1, Victoria Salas 1

RECORDS: Edinburg Economedes (10-1); Weslaco High (4-7)

District 31-5A

SHARYLAND HIGH 10, RIO GRANDE CITY 0

Rio Grande City 0 0 — 0

Sharyland High 6 4 — 10

SHARYLAND HIGH (10): Kaitie Watson 3, Isavela Marinaro 3, Vanessa Guevara 1, Nallely Garza 1, Vanessa Trevino 1, Barbara Cantu 1

RECORDS: Sharyland High (12-0); Rio Grande City (0-12)

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 3, Mercedes 0

Mercedes 0 0 — 0

PSJA Southwest 1 2 — 3

PSJA Southwest (3): Karla Olivarez 2, Alyssa Mendoza 1

RECORDS: PSJA Southwest (8-5); Mercedes (1-12)

DONNA NORTH 3, DONNA HIGH 1

Donna High 0 1 — 1

Donna North 2 1 — 3

DONNA HIGH (1): Not reported

DONNA NORTH (3): Betzaida Zuniga 2, Karla Rodriguez 1

RECORDS: Donna North (16-3, 12-1); Donna High (4-9)

BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

Entering the final week of the regular season, senior Diego Sanchez and the Edinburg North boys soccer team are close to capturing the District 31-6A title.

At 9-1, North has 25 points with two games remaining. The only team that can catch the Cougars is PSJA North, which has 23 points but only one game left on the schedule.

Edinburg North next plays Tuesday against PSJA Memorial — a team desperate for a win to move into playoff position.

“We can say this is the hardest game of the season, because we’re both looking for something,” Edinburg North coach Elias Moran said. “They’re looking for that fourth place in the playoffs, and we’re looking for that district championship.”

Moran said ball control and clock management have been the biggest keys to the Cougars’ success. With numerous players in their second or third year on varsity, North has become smarter about handling game situations.

Sanchez is the team’s captain and leading scorer, with about 8 goals in district play and 24 overall.

“Teams tend to put two or three kids shadowing him the whole time,” Moran said. “He’s a very smart player. … He’s been carrying the team all this season.”

Sanchez has proven to be multi-talented, adding double-digit assists to his team-leading goal total. He can take defenders one-on-one with speed, score off of free kicks or set up teammates with crosses after playing as a winger last season, Moran said.

CHIEFS ARE CHAMPS

After starting the District 32-5A season with a loss to Brownsville Porter, the Donna North Lady Chiefs ripped off 11 consecutive wins to secure a district title.

North pulled out a 2-1 win on Monday and officially clinched when PSJA Southwest beat Edcouch-Elsa 2-1 in PKs on Tuesday.

“That was always one of our goals,” Donna North coach Tony Garcia said. “We’re fortunate to have the type of athletes we have at Donna North. … We’re happy. We’re very, very happy.”

Garcia said the team refocused and rededicated after the early loss, and the commitment has shown in the results. He feels the Lady Chiefs are entering the playoffs at their best.

“You always want to hit that peak and then carry it on,” Garcia said. “Approach the playoff season as another stepping stone, and I feel the girls are ready for that playoff scenario.”

PLAYOFF PICTURE

The McAllen Memorial Lady Mustangs had their District 30-6A title put on hold with a 2-1 loss to McAllen High on Friday.

The defeat is the Lady Mustangs’ first of the district season, meaning the team will still win the title outright if it can get by La Joya Palmview or Mission High this week.

The Sharyland High girls have clinched the outright District 31-5A title, and the boys will do the same if they can defeat 1-10 Rio Grande City on Tuesday.

The District 31-6A girls title will likely be decided on Friday, when Edinburg North faces Edinburg Economedes.

[email protected]

BOYS

Friday, Mar. 13

District 30-6A

McAllen High 4, McAllen Memorial 1

La Joya Palmview 2, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 1

McAllen Rowe at Mission High, not reported

District 31-6A

PSJA Memorial 3, Weslaco High 2, PKs

PSJA North 3, Weslaco East 2

District 32-6A

Brownsville Lopez at Harlingen High, not reported

Brownsville Rivera at Brownsville Hanna, not reported

Los Fresnos at Brownsville Veterans Memorial, not reported

Harlingen South at San Benito, not reported

District 31-5A

Sharyland High 2, Valley View 1

Rio Grande City at Mission Veterans, not reported

Sharyland Pioneer at Roma, not reported

Tuesday, Mar. 17

District 30-6A

La Joya Palmview at McAllen Memorial, 7:30 p.m

La Joya High at McAllen Rowe, 7:30 p.m.

Mission High at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 8 p.m.

District 31-6A

Edinburg North at PSJA Memorial, 6 p.m.

Edinburg High at Weslaco East, 6 p.m.

Weslaco High at Edinburg Economedes, 6 p.m.

District 31-5A

Roma at Valley View, 7:30 p.m.

Mission Veterans at Edinburg Vela, 7:30 p.m.

Sharyland High at Rio Grande City, 8 p.m.

District 32-5A

Mercedes at PSJA Southwest, 5:30 p.m.

Donna High at Donna North, 6 p.m.

PSJA High at Brownsville Porter, 6 p.m.

Brownsville Pace at Edcouch-Elsa, 6 p.m.

District 31-4A

Hidalgo at Raymondville, 7 p.m.

District 32-4A

Brownsville IDEA Frontier at La Feria, 10 a.m.

Progreso at Port Isabel, 7:30 p.m.

Friday’s Games

District 31-6A

PSJA NOrth 3, WESLACO EAST 2

Weslaco East 1 1 — 2

PSJA North 2 1 — 3

PSJA NORTH (3): Gustavo Conejo 2, Juan Rodriguez 1

WESLACO EAST (2):

RECORDS: PSJA North (8-3); Weslaco East (2-8)

PSJA MEMORIAL 3, WESLACO HIGH 2, PKs

Weslaco High 2 0 — 2

PSJA Memorial 1 1 — 3

PSJA MEMORIAL (2): Osvaldo Villanueva 2

RECORDS: PSJA Memorial (4-7); Weslaco High (2-8)

District 31-5A

SHARYLAND HIGH 2, VALLEY VIEW 1

Valley View 0 1 — 1

Sharyland High 0 2 — 2

VALLEY VIEW (1): Rafael Garcia 1

RECORDS: Valley View (9-2); Sharyland High (10-1)

District 30-6A

LA JOYA PALMVIEW 2, LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN 1

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln # # — 1

La Joya Palmview # # — 2

LA JOYA PALMVIEW (2): Luis Rodriguez 1, Lazaro Hernandez 1

LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN (1): Not reported

RECORDS: La Joya Palmview (6-3); La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (5-4)

MCALLEN HIGH 4, MCALLEN MEMORIAL 1

McAllen Memorial 0 1 — 1

McAllen High 2 2 — 4

MCALLEN HIGH (4): Cesar Flores 2, Brandon Rangel 1, Adrian Rodriguez 1

MCALLEN MEMORIAL (1): Not reported

RECORDS: McAllen High (9-2); McAllen Memorial (4-6)

GIRLS

Friday, March 13

District 30-6A

McAllen High 2, McAllen Memorial 1

McAllen Rowe at Mission High, not reported

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at La Joya Palmview, not reported

District 31-6A

Weslaco High 1, PSJA Memorial 0

Weslaco East 5, PSJA North 2

District 32-6A

Harlingen High at Brownsville Lopez, not reported

Brownsville Hanna at Brownsville Rivera, not reported

Brownsville Veterans Memorial at Los Fresnos, not reported

San Benito at Harlingen South, not reported

District 31-5A

Sharyland High 6, Valley View 0

Sharyland Pioneer 5, Roma 0

Mission Veterans at Rio Grande City, not reported

District 32-4A

La Feria at Brownsville IDEA Frontier, not reported

Port Isabel at Progreso, not reported

Tuesday, March 17

District 30-6A

La Joya Palmview at McAllen Memorial, 6 p.m.

La Joya High at McAllen Rowe, 6 p.m.

Mission High at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 6 p.m.

District 31-6A

Edinburg North at PSJA Memorial, 7:30 p.m.

Weslaco High at Edinburg Economedes, 8 p.m.

Edinburg High at Weslaco East, 8 p.m.

District 31-5A

Rio Grande City at Sharyland High, 8 p.m.

Valley View at Roma, 8 p.m.

Edinburg Vela at Mission Veterans, 8 p.m.

District 32-5A

Mercedes at PSJA Southwest, 7 p.m.

Donna High at Donna North, 7:30 p.m.

PSJA High at Brownsville Porter, 7:30 p.m.

Brownsville Pace at Edcouch-Elsa, 7:30 p.m.

District 31-4A

Hidalgo at Raymondville, 6 p.m.

Friday’s Game

District 30-6A

McALLEN HIGH 2, MCALLEN MEMORIAL 1

McAllen Memorial 0 1 — 0

McAllen High 1 1 — 2

McALLEN MEMORIAL (1): Avery Morgan 1

MCALLEN HIGH (2): Serena Cervantes 2

RECORDS: McAllen Memorial (9-1); McAllen High (9-2)

District 31-6A

Weslaco High 1, PSJA Memorial 0

Weslaco High 1 0 — 1

PSJA Memorial 0 0 — 0

WESLACO HIGH (1): Not reported

RECORDS: Weslaco High (4-6); PSJA Memorial (5-5)

District 31-5A

SHARYLAND PIONEER 5, ROMA 0

Roma 0 0 — 0

Sharyland Pioneer 4 0 — 5

SHARYLAND PIONEER (5): Andrea Reyes 2, Hannah Padilla 1, Nikki Cuellar 1, Maggi Palacios 1

RECORDS: Sharyland Pioneer (10-2); Roma (5-6)

SHARYLAND 6, VALLEY VIEW 0

Valley View 0 0 — 0

Sharyland High 3 3 — 6

VALLEY VIEW (0):

SHARYLAND HIGH (6): Vanessa Guevara 3, Kaitie Watson 1, Isabella 1, Cecy Garcia 1

RECORDS: Sharyland High (11-0); Valley View (not reported)

Boys

Monday, Mar. 9

District 31-6A

PSJA North 2, Edinburg Economedes 1, PKs

Edinburg High at PSJA Memorial, not reported

District 32-5A

Brownsville Pace 2, Donna North 1

Brownsville Porter 5, Donna High 0

Mercedes 2, PSJA High 0

Tuesday, Mar. 10

District 30-6A

La Joya Palmview 7, McAllen Rowe 1

Mission High at La Joya High, not reported

McAllen High at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, not reported

District 31-6A

Edinburg North 4, Weslaco High 1

District 31-5A

Valley View 8, Mission Veterans 1

Sharyland High 2, Sharyland Pioneer 0

Edinburg Vela at Rio Grande City, not reported

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 5, Edcouch-Elsa 0

District 32-4A

Progreso at La Feria, not reported

Brownsville IDEA Frontier at Port Isabel, not reported

Wednesday, Mar. 11

District 31-6A

Edinburg Economedes at Edinburg High, Noon

Friday, Mar. 13

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe at Mission High, 8 p.m.

McAllen Memorial at McAllen High, 8 p.m.

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at La Joya Palmview, 8 p.m.

District 31-6A

PSJA Memorial at Weslaco High, 6 p.m.

Weslaco East at PSJA North, 6 p.m.

District 32-6A

Brownsville Lopez at Harlingen High, 7:15 p.m.

Brownsville Rivera at Brownsville Hanna, 7:15 p.m.

Los Fresnos at Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 7:15 p.m.

Harlingen South at San Benito, 7:15 p.m.

District 31-5A

Valley View at Sharyland High, 7:30 p.m.

Rio Grande City at Mission Veterans, 7:30 p.m.

Sharyland Pioneer at Roma, 8 p.m.

Monday’s Games

District 32-5A

MERCEDES 2, PSJA HIGH 0

PSJA High 0 0 — 0

Mercedes 1 1 — 2

MERCEDES (2): Victor Gonzalez 1, Cristobal Martinez 1

RECORDS: PSJA High (2-10); Mercedes (5-7)

District 31-6A

PSJA NORTH 2, EDINBURG ECONOMEDES 1, PKs

PSJA North # # — 1

Edinburg Economedes # # — 1

PSJA North (1): Gustavo Conejo 1

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES (1): Not reported

RECORDS: PSJA North (7-3); Edinburg Economedes (5-4)

Tuesday’s Games

District 31-5A

VALLEY VIEW 8, MISSION VETERANS 1

Mission Veterans 1 0 — 1

Valley View 1 7 — 8

VALLEY VIEW (8): Avinadan Garcia 2, Rafael Garcia 1, Edxon Baldera 1, Xavier Garcia 1, J.P. Cantu 1, Alexis Gutierrez 1, Alexis Presiado 1

RECORDS: Valley View (9-1); Mission Veterans (1-9)

District 30-6A

LA JOYA PALMVIEW 7, MCAllen Rowe 1

La Joya Pallmview # # — 7

McAllen Rowe # # — 1

LA JOYA PALMVIEW (7): Jose Bocanegra 2, Abram Aviles 1, Jorge Garcia 1, Erick Jimenez 1, Lazaro Hernandez 1, Elio Molina 1

RECORDS: La Joya Palmview (6-3); McAllen Rowe (0-10)

District 31-6A

EDINBURG NORTH 4, WESLACO HIGH 1

Weslaco High # # — 1

Edinburg North # # — 4

EDINBURG NORTH (4): Leonel Rivas 2, Diego Sanchez 1, Esteban Lopez 1

RECORDS: Edinburg North (9-1); Weslaco High (2-7)

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 5, Edcouch-Elsa 0

Edcouch-Elsa 0 0 — 0

PSJA Southwest 2 3 — 5

PSJA SOUTHWEST (5): Jorge Cantu 2, Luis Escudero 1, Uriel Garcia 1, Jose Benavides 1

RECORDS: PSJA Southwest (8-4); Edcouch-Elsa (2-10)

Girls

Monday, March 9

District 31-6A

Edinburg Economedes 5, PSJA North 0

Edinburg High 2, PSJA Memorial 0

District 32-5A

Donna North 2, Brownsville Pace 1

PSJA High 1, Mercedes 0

Brownsville Porter 4, Donna High 0

Tuesday, March 10

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe 1, La Joya Palmview 0

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 1, McAllen High 0, PKs

Mission High at La Joya High, not reported

District 31-6A

Edinburg North 2, Weslaco High 1

District 31-5A

Sharyland High 3, Sharyland Pioneer 0

Rio Grande City at Edinburg Vela, not reported

Valley View at Mission Veterans, not reported

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 2, Edcouch-Elsa 1, PKs

District 32-4A

Port Isabel at Raymondville, not reported

Wednesday, March 11

District 31-6A

Edinburg Economedes at Edinburg High, 2 p.m.

Friday, March 13

District 30-6A

McAllen Memorial at McAllen High, 6 p.m.

McAllen Rowe at Mission High, 6 p.m.

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at La Joya Palmview, 6 p.m.

District 31-6A

Weslaco High at PSJA Memorial, 7:30 p.m.

Weslaco East at PSJA North, 7:30 p.m.

District 32-6A

Harlingen High at Brownsville Lopez, 7:15 p.m.

Brownsville Hanna at Brownsville Rivera, 7:15 p.m.

Brownsville Veterans Memorial at Los Fresnos, 7:15 p.m.

San Benito at Harlingen South, 7:15 p.m.

District 31-5A

Sharyland High at Valley View, 8 p.m.

Roma at Sharyland Pioneer, 8 p.m.

Mission Veterans at Rio Grande City, 8 p.m.

District 32-4A

La Feria at Brownsville IDEA Frontier, 6 p.m.

Port Isabel at Progreso, 7:30 p.m.

Monday’s Games

District 31-6A

EDINBURG HIGH 2, PSJA MEMORIAL 0

Edinburg High 2 0 — 2

PSJA Memorial 0 0 — 0

EDINBURG HIGH (2): Yessi Molina 1, Reyna Del Castillo 1

RECORDS: Edinburg High (11-12-1, 6-3); PSJA Memorial (5-5)

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES 5, PSJA North 0

PSJA North 0 0 — 0

Edinburg Economedes 3 2 — 5

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES (5): Sofia Hernandez 3, Victoria Salas 1, Ayssa Ozuna 1

RECORDS: Edinburg Economedes (8-1); PSJA North (0-10)

District 32-5A

PSJA High 1, MERCEDES 0

Mercedes 0 0 — 0

PSJA High 1 0 — 1

PSJA HIGH (1): Itzel Gonzalez 1

RECORDS: PSJA High (1-11); Mercedes (1-11)

DONNA NORTH 2, BROWNSVILLE PACE 1

Donna North 1 1 — 2

Brownsville Pace 1 0 — 1

DONNA NORTH (2): Elizabeth Reyes 1, Betzaida Zuniga 1

RECORDS: Donna North (15-3, 11-1); Brownsville Pace (8-4)

Tuesday’s Games

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe 1, La JOya Palmview 0

La Joya Palmview 0 0 — 0

McAllen Rowe 0 1 — 1

MCALLEN ROWE (1): Victoria Castro 1

RECORDS: McAllen Rowe (6-4); La Joya Palmview (3-6)

District 31-6A

EDINBURG NORTH 2, WESLACO HIGH 1

Weslaco High 1 0 — 1

Edinburg North 1 1 — 2

EDINBURG NORTH (2): Gloria Gutierrez 1, Esmer Cano 1

RECORDS: Edinburg North (10-0); Weslaco High (3-6)

District 32-5A

PSJA SOUTHWEST 2, EDCOUCH-ELSA 1, PKs

Edcouch-Elsa # # — 1

PSJA Southwest # # — 1

PSJA SOUTHWEST (1): Karla Olivarez 1

RECORDS: PSJA Southwest (7-5); Edcouch-Elsa (9-3)

Boys

Monday, Mar. 9

District 31-6A

PSJA North 2, Edinburg Economedes 1, PKs

Edinburg High at PSJA Memorial, not reported

District 32-5A

Brownsville Pace 2, Donna North 1

Brownsville Porter 5, Donna High 0

Mercedes 2, PSJA High 0

Edcouch-Elsa at PSJA Southwest, not reported

Tuesday, Mar. 10

District 30-6A

Mission High at La Joya High, 8 p.m.

McAllen High at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 8 p.m.

La Joya Palmview at McAllen Rowe, 8 p.m.

District 31-6A

Weslaco High at Edinburg North, 6 p.m.

District 31-5A

Mission Veterans at Valley View, 7:30 p.m.

Sharyland High at Sharyland Pioneer, 8 p.m.

Edinburg Vela at Rio Grande City, 8 p.m.

District 32-4A

Progreso at La Feria, 6 p.m.

Brownsville IDEA Frontier at Port Isabel, 6 p.m.

Monday’s Games

District 32-5A

MERCEDES 2, PSJA HIGH 0

PSJA High 0 0 — 0

Mercedes 1 1 — 2

MERCEDES (2): Victor Gonzalez 1, Cristobal Martinez 1

RECORDS: PSJA High (2-10); Mercedes (5-7)

District 31-6A

PSJA NORTH 2, EDINBURG ECONOMEDES 1, PKs

PSJA North # # — 1

Edinburg Economedes # # — 1

PSJA North (1): Gustavo Conejo 1

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES (1): Not reported

RECORDS: PSJA North (7-3); Edinburg Economedes (5-4)

Girls

Monday, March 9

District 31-6A

Edinburg Economedes 5, PSJA North 0

Edinburg High 2, PSJA Memorial 0

District 32-5A

Donna North 2, Brownsville Pace 1

PSJA High 1, Mercedes 0

Brownsville Porter 4, Donna High 0

Edcouch-Elsa at PSJA Southwest, not reported

Tuesday, March 10

District 30-6A

La Joya Palmview at McAllen Rowe, 6 p.m.

Mission High at La Joya High, 6 p.m.

McAllen High at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 6 p.m.

District 31-6A

Weslaco High at Edinburg North, 7:30 p.m.

District 31-5A

Sharyland Pioneer at Sharyland High, 8 p.m.

Rio Grande City at Edinburg Vela, 8 p.m.

Valley View at Mission Veterans, 8 p.m.

District 32-4A

Port Isabel at Raymondville, 7:30 p.m.

Monday’s Games

District 31-6A

EDINBURG HIGH 2, PSJA MEMORIAL 0

Edinburg High 2 0 — 2

PSJA Memorial 0 0 — 0

EDINBURG HIGH (2): Yessi Molina 1, Reyna Del Castillo 1

RECORDS: Edinburg High (11-12-1, 6-3); PSJA Memorial (5-5)

District 31-6A

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES 5, PSJA North 0

PSJA North 0 0 — 0

Edinburg Economedes 3 2 — 5

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES (5): Sofia Hernandez 3, Victoria Salas 1, Ayssa Ozuna 1

RECORDS: Edinburg Economedes (8-1); PSJA North (0-10)

District 32-5A

PSJA High 1, MERCEDES 0

Mercedes 0 0 — 0

PSJA High 1 0 — 1

PSJA HIGH (1): Itzel Gonzalez 1

RECORDS: PSJA High (1-11); Mercedes (1-11)

DONNA NORTH 2, BROWNSVILLE PACE 1

Donna North 1 1 — 2

Brownsville Pace 1 0 — 1

DONNA NORTH (2): Elizabeth Reyes 1, Betzaida Zuniga 1

RECORDS: Donna North (15-3, 11-1); Brownsville Pace (8-4)

BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

At the start of the season, his first year on varsity, Sharyland Pioneer forward Diego Ramirez was always trying to go 100 miles per hour, coach Alex Lopez said.

Speed is one of Ramirez’s biggest strengths, and he was perhaps a little too eager to put it to use.

“Being a finisher, sometimes you have to be very patient,” Pioneer coach Alex Lopez said. “Early on in the year, he really wasn’t all that patient. It looks like he’s learning his role pretty well. And he’s been putting some points on the board for us. It’s working.”

Only a sophomore, Ramirez has blossomed into Pioneer’s leading scorer with seven goals in district play.

Last season, Ramirez played for Sharyland High’s freshman team.

“For being such a young guy, I think he’s one of the guys that really takes it upon himself to try to do something and carry the team through,” Lopez said. ”I’m very proud of the way he’s been playing and the way he’s been carrying the team.”

Ramirez has been a key cog pushing Pioneer to a 7-3 record. The Diamondbacks have already clinched a playoff berth and, with two games left to play, still have an outside chance at a district title. Sharyland High and Valley View lead Pioneer by 3 points, and each still has three games remaining.

“It means the world,” Lopez said of his team clinching a playoff spot. “It’s one of those things that we were really aiming for, but it’s something we knew was not going to come easy for a first-year program. We’re very excited.”

ON THE RISE

Entering 2015 with a combined record of 15-58 in the past five district seasons and down two players to ACL tears, PSJA Memorial appeared hard pressed to break its playoff drought.

But freshmen Nallely Gonzalez and Yozary Gonzalez have stepped up, scoring four goals each in place of injured starters left wing Hydia Puente and forward Astrid Villanueva. In part because of their efforts, the Wolverines are 5-4 and have 16 points in district, putting them in position to potentially clinch a playoff spot this week.

“We’re just staying together,” coach Arturo Chavez said. “We set a lot of goals, and one of those goals was to make the playoffs this year. So it does mean a lot. Especially with this group of girls.”

While the two freshmen have been pleasant surprises, the Wolverines’ biggest offensive threats have been Aranza Medina (6 goals) and Myriam Saenz (4 goals).

Chavez said his team’s strengths are being able to play different styles, spread the field and increase the pace of the game. As opponents focus to try to take away Medina and Saenz, the two freshmen step up.

Memorial is also anchored by a strong defense, with seniors at goalie, stopper, sweeper and left back.

“The ones I can really, really count on is my whole defensive staff,” Chavez said. “Those are the ones that really keep us in the game and communicate.”

PLAYOFF PICTURE

With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, the playoff picture is starting to take shape.

In District 32-5A, Brownsville Porter’s boys have already secured at least a share of the district title. McAllen High has clinched a playoff spot in District 30-6A, Edinburg North has clinched a playoff spot in District 31-6A, and Valley View, Sharyland High and Sharyland Pioneer are all in from District 31-5A.

On the girls side, McAllen Memorial and McAllen High have clinched playoff spots in District 30-6A. Edinburg North has clinched a playoff berth in District 31-6A, Donna North is in from District 32-5A, and Sharyland High and Sharyland Pioneer have clinched from District 31-5A.

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Boys Top 10
1. Brownsville Rivera
2. Valley View
3. Brownsville Porter
4. Brownsville Hanna
5. Sharyland High
6. McAllen High
7. Edinburg North
8. Sharyland Pioneer
9. Brownsville Veterans
10. La Joya Palmview

Girls Top 10
1. McAllen Memorial
2. Los Fresnos
3. Brownsville Hanna
4. Harlingen South
5. Brownsville Lopez
6. Sharyland High
7. Sharyland Pioneer
8. McAllen High
9. Edinburg North
10. Edinburg Economedes

Soccer standings through March 6

X – denotes playoff qualifier

Boys

District 30-6A

District

Team W L Pts

McAllen High-x 8 1 23

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 5 3 17

La Joya Palmview 5 3 15

Mission High 4 4 12

La Joya High 4 5 12

McAllen Memorial 4 5 11

McAllen Rowe 0 9 0

District 31-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Edinburg North-x 8 1 22

PSJA North 6 3 18

Edinburg Economedes 5 3 15

PSJA Memorial 3 6 11

Edinburg High 4 4 10

Weslaco East 2 7 7

Weslaco High 2 6 6

District 32-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Brownsville Rivera-x 12 0 36

Brownsville Hanna-x 10 2 30

Brownsville Lopez-x 7 5 22

Brownsville Veterans 6 6 19

Harlingen South 5 7 14

Los Fresnos 3 9 9

San Benito 3 9 9

Harlingen High 2 10 5

District 31-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Sharyland High-x 8 1 24

Valley View-x 8 1 24

Sharyland Pioneer-x 7 3 21

Edcinburg Vela 5 5 14

Roma 3 7 10

Rio Grande City 1 8 3

Mission Veterans 1 8 3

District 32-5A

District

Team W L Pts

Brownsville Porter-x 11 0 32

PSJA Southwest 7 4 23

Donna North 7 4 20

Donna High 6 5 18

Brownsville Pace 6 5 17

Mercedes 4 7 12

PSJA High 1 10 4

Edcouch-Elsa 2 9 6

District 31-4A

District

Team W L Pts

Hidalgo-x 6 1 18

Grulla-x 6 1 18

Monte Alto-x 2 4 6

Zapata-x 2 4 6

Raymondville 0 6 0

District 32-4A

District

Team W L Pts

Progreso-x 7 0 21

Port Isabel-x 3 4 11

IDEA Frontier-x 3 4 7

La Feria-x 1 6 3

Girls

District 30-6A

District

Team W L Pts

McAllen Memorial-x 9 0 27

McAllen High-x 8 1 24

McAllen Rowe 5 4 14

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 3 5 9

La Joya Palmview 3 5 9

Mission High 2 6 7

La Joya High 0 9 0

District 31-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Edinburg North-x 9 0 27

Edcinburg Economedes 7 1 21

PSJA Memorial 5 4 16

Edinburg High 5 3 13

Weslaco High 3 5 9

Weslaco East 1 8 4

PSJA North 0 9 0

District 32-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Brownsville Hanna-x 10 2 29

Los Fresnos-x 10 2 28

Harlingen South-x 9 3 27

Brownsville Lopez-x 7 5 23

Brownsville Rivera 5 7 16

Brownsville Veterans 3 9 9

Harlingen High 2 9 9

San Benito 1 11 3

District 31-5A

District

Team W L Pts

Sharyland High-x 9 0 27

Sharyland Pioneer-x 9 1 27

Edcinburg Vela-x 6 4 18

Roma 5 5 14

Mission Veterans 2 7 6

Valley View 2 7 7

Rio Grande City 0 9 0

District 32-5A

District

Team W L Pts

Donna North-x 10 1 29

Edcouch-Elsa 9 2 24

Brownsville Pace 8 3 24

PSJA Southwest 6 5 20

Brownsville Porter 6 5 18

Donna High 4 7 13

Mercedes 1 10 3

PSJA High 0 11 1

District 31-4A

District

Team W L Pts

Hidalgo-x 5 0 15

Raymondville-x 3 2 8

Grulla-x 2 3 7

Monte Alto-x 0 5 0

District 32-4A

District

Team W L Pts

La Feria-x 9 0 27

Progreso-x 7 2 21

Port Isabel-x 5 4 15

Rio Hondo 3 5 9

Lyford 1 7 4

IDEA Frontier 1 8 2

VALLEY BOYS SOCCER SCORES

Friday, Mar. 6

District 30-6A

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 3, McAllen Memorial 2

La Joya Palmview 3, La Joya High 1

McAllen High 4, McAllen Rowe 3

District 31-6A

PSJA North 2, PSJA Memorial 1, PKs

Edinburg North 2, Edinburg High 1

Edinburg Economedes at Weslaco East, not reported

District 32-6A

Brownsville Rivera 7, Los Fresnos 1

Brownsville Hanna 2, Harlingen South 1

San Benito at Brownsville Lopez, not reported

Harlingen High at Brownsville Vets Memorial, not reported

District 31-5A

Valley View 2, Edinburg Vela 1

Sharyland Pioneer at Mission Veterans, not reported

Sharyland High 2, Roma 0

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest at Donna North, not reported

Donna at PSJA High, not reported

Brownsville Porter 5, Brownsville Pace 0

Monday, Mar. 9

District 31-6A

Edinburg High at PSJA Memorial, Noon

PSJA North at Edinburg Economedes, Noon

District 32-5A

Donna North at Brownsville Pace, 10 a.m.

Edcouch-Elsa at PSJA Southwest, 5:30 p.m.

Brownsville Porter at Donna High, 6 p.m.

PSJA High at Mercedes, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Mar. 10

District 30-6A

Mission High at La Joya High, 8 p.m.

McAllen High at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 8 p.m.

La Joya Palmview at McAllen Rowe, 8 p.m.

District 31-6A

Weslaco High at Edinburg North, 6 p.m.

District 31-5A

Mission Veterans at Valley View, 7:30 p.m.

Sharyland High at Sharyland Pioneer, 8 p.m.

Edinburg Vela at Rio Grande City, 8 p.m.

District 32-4A

Progreso at La Feria, 6 p.m.

Brownsville IDEA Frontier at Port Isabel, 6 p.m.

PSJA North 1, PSJA Memorial 1.

(PSJA North 2-1 PK’s)

PSJA Memorial 1 0 — 1

PSJA North 0 1 — 1

PSJA Memorial (1) — Rene De Leon, 1.

PSJA NOrth (1) — Marco Perez, 1.

RECORDS: PSJA North (6-3); PSJA Memorial (3-7)

Edinburg North 2, Edinburg High 1

Ediburg North 2 0 — 2

Edinburg High 0 1 — 1

Edinburg North (2) — Diego Sanchez, 2.

Edinburg High (1) — Not Reported

RECORDS: Edinburg North (8-1); Edinburg High (5-3)

Valley View 2, Edinburg Vela 1

Valley View 1 1 — 2

Edinburg Vela 0 1 — 1

Valley View (2) — Mario Gomez, 1; Avinadan Garcia, 1.

Edinburg Vela (1) — Not Reported

RECORDS: Valley View (8-1)

La Joya Juarez Lincoln 3, McAllen memorial 2

La Joya Juarez Lincoln 2 1 — 3

McAllen Memorial 0 2 — 2

La Joya Juarez (3) — Not Reported

McAllen memorial (2) — Not Reported

La Joya Palmview 3, La JOya HIgh 1

La Joya High X X — 1

La Joya Palmview X X — 3

La Joya High (1) — not reported

La Joya Palmview (3) — Luis Rodriguez, 1; Lazaro Hernandez, 1; Jose Carmona, 1

MCALLEN HIGH 4, MCALLEN ROWE 3

McAllen Rowe 1 0 — 3

McAllen High 3 1 — 4

Mcallen Rowe (3) — not reported

Mcallen High (4) — Brandon Rangel, 3; Luis Ramire 1

RECORDS: McAllen High (9-1

valley girls soccer SCORES

Friday, March 6

District 30-6A

McAllen Memorial 7, LJ Juarez-Lincoln 1

McAllen High 4, McAllen Rowe 1

La Joya High at La Joya Palmview, Not reported

District 31-6A

PSJA Memorial 6, PSJA North 0

Edinburg Economedes 9, Weslaco East 0

Edinburg North 2, Edinburg High 0

District 32-6A

Brownsville Lopez 2, San Benito 0

Los Fresnos 4, Brownsville Rivera 2

Harlingen High 5, Brownsville Vets Memorial 4 (OT)

Brownsville Hanna 2, Harlingen South 2

District 31-5A

Sharyland High 4, Roma 1

Sharyland Pioneer 4, Mission Veterans 1

Edinburg Vela 3, Valley View 0

District 32-5A

Donna North 1, PSJA Southwest 0

Donna High 3, PSJA High 0

Mercedes at Edcouch-Elsa, Not reported

Brownsville Pace 3, Brownsville Porter 2

District 32-4A

Lyford at La Feria, Not reported

Port Isabel 3, Rio Hondo 2

Monday, March 9

District 31-6A

PSJA North at Edinburg Economedes, 2 p.m. (PSJA North has 7:30 on the 10th)

Edinburg High at PSJA Memorial, 2 p.m.

District 32-5A

Donna North at Brownsville Pace, Noon

Edcouch-Elsa at PSJA Southwest, 7 p.m.

PSJA High at Mercedes, 7:30 p.m. (Mercedes says away)

Brownsville Porter at Donna High, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 10

District 30-6A

La Joya Palmview at McAllen Rowe, 6 p.m.

Mission High at La Joya High, 6 p.m.

McAllen High at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 6 p.m.

District 31-6A

Weslaco High at Edinburg North, 7:30 p.m.

District 31-5A

Sharyland Pioneer at Sharyland High, 8 p.m.

Rio Grande City at Edinburg Vela, 8 p.m.

Valley View at Mission Veterans, 8 p.m.

District 32-4A

Port Isabel at Raymondville, 7:30 p.m.

valley girls soccer BOX SCORES

McAllen High 4, McAllen Rowe 1

McAllen Rowe 0 1 — 1

McAllen High 2 2 — 4

Mcallen Rowe (1) — Not Reported

McAllen High (4) — Serena Cervantes, 3; Dana Idrogo, 1.

Mcallen memorial 7,

La Joya Juarez Lincoln 1

La Joya Juarez Lincoln 0 1 — 1

McAllen Memorial 3 4 — 7

La Joya Juarez Lincoln (1) — Not Reported

Mcallen Memorial (7) — Connie Avila, 3; Leslie Flores, 2; Jackie Quintero, 1; Deidra De La Rosa, 1

RECORDS: McAllen Memorial 19-1 (9-0)

Edinburg Economedes 9, Weslaco East 0

Weslaco East 0 0 — 0

Edinburg Economedes 4 5 — 9

Weslaco East (0) — Not reported

Edinburg Economedes (9) — Rita Zapata, 1; Ayssa Ozuna 4; Alyssa Ozuna, 1; Maritzela Guzman, 1; Sofia Hernandez, 1; Arandi Platas, 1

PSJA Memorial 6, PSJA North 0

PSJA Memorial 4 2 — 6

PSJA North 0 0 — 0

PSJA Memorial (6) — Aranza Medina, 1; Myriam Saenz, 1; Yozary Gonzalez, 2; Nallely Gonzalez, 2

SHarYLAND PIONEER 4, MISSION VETERANS 1

Mission Veterans 1 0 — 1

Sharyland Pioneer 2 2 — 4

SHARYLAND PIONEER (4) — Julie Alanis 1, Andrea Reyes 1, Nikki Cuellar 1, Taylor Marquez 1

MISSION VETERANS (1) — not reported

SHarYLAND HIGH 4, ROMA 1

Roma 1 0 — 1

Sharyland High 2 2 — 4

SHARYLAND High (4) — Isabella Marinaro 2, Nallely Garza 1, Vanessa Guevara 1

ROMA (1) — Leslie Ruiz 1

DONNA NORTH 1, PSJA SOUTHWEST 0

PSJA Southwest 0 0 — 0

Donna North 1 0 — 1

DONNA NORTH (1) — Betzaida Zuniga 1

BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

EDCOUCH — Early in the first round of her third-place match at the district wrestling meet, Mission High senior Vaneliy Guerrero was trying to fight off a pull when she planted her right leg as hard as she could and felt a pop in her knee.

Guerrero let out a scream as trainers and coaches rushed to attend to her. Immediately, her mind went to powerlifting.

“I didn’t care what happened in district,” Guerrero said. “I knew I could’ve gone to state again, but it was powerlifting that had me worried.”

Guerrero said the trainers had to physically lift her from the match, with one under each arm, as she fought to try to continue. She wanted them to wrap her knee and let her back in the match, but they knew almost immediately that Guerrero had suffered a torn ACL. Her visit to Dr. Kip Owens early the next week revealed it to be even more significant: a torn ACL and meniscus, plus three strains of her LCL.

The knee won’t heal without surgery, and Guerrero said even with a brace, it sometimes gives out on her just as she’s walking normally throughout the day. Regardless, the procedure will have to wait until April.

Despite the daily pain and the risk of further injury, Guerrero hasn’t given up on powerlifting. She’ll be competing in the 198.5-pound weight class today during the Region 5 meet at Edcouch-Elsa High School.
“I could make it much, much worse, and I’m taking that risk,” Guerrero said. “I started this off, now I want to end it. I thought of them not letting me, but I never thought not to keep on going. I didn’t care what it was, I was still going to powerlift.”

Although the controlled environment of powerlifting makes it possible for Guerrero to compete, she has had to make substantial changes on account of her injury.

Two weeks passed between when she suffered the injury on Feb. 6 and when the doctors released her to return to working out, leaving her with just two more to prepare for the meet.

Powerlifting is comprised of the squat, dead lift and bench press, and each event gives Guerrero a different issue. On the dead lift, she feels a sharp pain above the knee, plus another ache on the side due to the meniscus tear. On the bench, she isn’t able to arch her back and push off with her feet as she normally would. But worst of all is the squat. She said she’s had to essentially “start from zero,” learning a different form that brings her legs closer together.

“This is the farthest I can bend my knee,” Guerrero said, pulling her right leg to about a 90 degree angle. “After that, I just feel pain, pain, pain, pain.”

The injury will present an especially stiff challenge at regionals, where coach Roy Pena said the judges are much more critical in making sure a lifter’s hip breaks the top of the knee on a squat.

She’s looked to Google for ways to tweak her form, but in the end she simply can’t work out as much as she would like. Guerrero and Pena started slow and tried to build up, but eventually had no choice but to dial things down.

“I’m losing strength every day,” Guerrero said.

Still, Pena is confident Guerrero can hit the state qualifying weight of a combined 795 pounds. The plan is for Guerrero to open with a 365 squat, a 170 bench and a 330 dead lift. If she hits all three, that would put her at 865.

Those marks represent huge jumps for Guerrero, who started powerlifting two years ago with a 185 squat, a 70 bench and a 190 dead lift.

With wrestling practice after school each day, she and fellow regional qualifiers Sally Ochoa and Estefany Gonzalez would arrive at Mission High at 6 a.m. to lift. During the summer and throughout football season, the girls would run through the same weightlifting and cardio program as the football team — “stronger than them, actually,” Guerrero said — including mat workouts and tire flips.

“If she was a guy, she’d be one of my starting defensive linemen,” Pena, Mission High’s defensive line coach, said.

Pain is essentially guaranteed at today’s meet, but Guerrero is confident she can push through. And, if necessary, that she’ll be able to do so again in two weeks at the state meet in Corpus Christi.

“I’m really proud of her. Everyone is,” Ochoa said. “Nobody thought she was going to continue, and she did. She’s just giving it her all and proving everyone wrong.”

[email protected]

GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

Last year marked a breakthrough season for PSJA Southwest forward Luis Escudero, but he and the Javelinas were unable to finish the year the way they had hoped.

Although Escudero scored twice in Southwest’s 8-0 bi-district round win against Port Isabel, he suffered a broken hand during the game and missed the rest of the season after undergoing surgery. Without Escudero, Southwest lost 1-0 to Georgetown in the Region IV-4A semifinals.

“We felt he was one of the key factors for us to not go through the regional semis,” Southwest coach Jesus Palomin said. “But he did his rehab, he did his strength and conditioning program, and he looks faster, quicker and stronger this season.”

A senior back in the starting lineup for the third consecutive year, Escudero has scored 14 goals to propel the Javelinas to a 7-2 record in District 32-5A.

Escudero scored four goals last season, and Palomin said the biggest reason for the jump is improved speed and strength. Escudero shaved more than a second off of his 40-yard dash time, down to a 4.45. He also benches 175 pounds — “Pretty good for a little guy like him,” Palomin said.

After a few nagging injuries, including one to Escudero, hampered the Javelinas early in the district season, the team is hitting its stride. Southwest has won five games in a row. On the season, the team has scored 31 goals — the highest total in the district and already more than double the 15 they scored in district play last season.

“We’re using the same system, we’re still using the same offensive scheme, and Luis Escudero is still a major part of our offense,” Palomin said. “The difference is he’s been able to capitalize in the first part of the game.”

SCORING IN BUNCHES

When coach Jacob Hinojosa started at PSJA North seven years ago, he thought the 4-4-2 was the only formation that could work. He considered himself an old-school coach in that way.

But, as time has gone on, he’s started to experiment with more aggressive styles. Last year, running a 3-4-3, the team scored 50 goals. Even after switching to a 3-5-2 for this season, the Raiders lead District 31-6A with 26 goals, more than double the second-highest scorers. Edinburg North, Edinburg Economedes and PSJA Memorial all have 12.

That scoring surge is a big part of the reason the Raiders are 5-2 and contending with Edinburg North and Economedes for the district title.

The two players providing the bulk of the scoring are Margarito Carpio and Juan Rodriguez.

Carpio, a senior lefty and North’s varsity football kicker, is in his third year as a varsity starter.

“He’s one of those guys that every coach would want on his team,” Hinojosa said.

Rodriguez, a junior in his second year on varsity, scored four goals in Friday’s 7-1 win against Weslaco High.

FINDING OFFENSE

Last year, La Joya High struggled to score, converting just 10 goals on the year. The Coyotes still clawed their way to a 6-10 mark, but four of those wins came in shootouts.

This season, La Joya has picked up its offensive pace significantly, already netting 11 goals in just eight games — better than twice the pace of last season. The surge has the Coyotes at 4-4 and in the thick of the playoff race in a muddled District 30-6A.

“We have more offense much easier than last year, because I have the players to do it,” coach Eugenio Milla said. “Last year, we did not have forwards. The forwards I used, they were originally midfielders.”

That’s no longer the case this year, with freshman Johnny Gutierrez providing an immediate impact and Erasmo Rosales moving up from junior varsity. Their arrival has helped create more scoring opportunities for midfielders Noe Mata and Edgar Cortinas — two returners from last year’s team and the Coyotes’ leading scorers.

La Joya snapped a three-game winning streak with a 2-0 loss to McAllen High on Saturday but still has 12 points, tied with La Joya Palmview and Mission High for third. District-leading McHi has 20, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln has 14 and McAllen Memorial trails the pack with 11.

A year after finishing next-to-last in district, the Coyotes are in a position to contend.

“Our boys are not pushed around any more,” Milla said. “These guys are really skilled. That, and a good conditioning base, are probably our strengths.”

BOYS Top 10
1. Brownsville Rivera
2. Valley View
3. Brownsville Porter
4. Brownsville Lopez
5. Brownsville Hanna
6. Sharyland High
7. McAllen High
8. Edinburg North
9. Edinburg Vela
10. PSJA Southwest

GIRLS Top 10
1. McAllen Memorial
2. Los Fresnos
3. Harlingen South
4. Brownsville Hanna
5. Brownsville Lopez
6. Sharyland High
7. Sharyland Pioneer
8. McAllen High
9. Edinburg North
10. Edinburg Economedes

Soccer standings through Feb. 28

Boys

District 30-6A

District

Team W L Pts

McAllen High 7 1 20

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 4 3 14

La Joya Palmview 4 3 12

Mission High 4 4 12

La Joya High 4 4 12

McAllen Memorial 4 4 11

McAllen Rowe 0 8 0

District 31-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Edinburg North 6 1 16

PSJA North 5 2 16

Edinburg Economedes 5 2 15

Edinburg High 4 2 10

PSJA Memorial 2 5 7

Weslaco East 1 6 4

Weslaco High 1 6 3

District 32-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Brownsville Rivera 10 0 30

Brownsville Hanna 8 2 24

Brownsville Lopez 7 3 22

Harlingen South 5 5 14

Brownsville Veterans 4 6 13

Los Fresnos 3 7 9

San Benito 2 8 6

Harlingen High 1 9 2

District 31-5A

District

Team W L Pts

Sharyland High 7 1 21

Valley View 6 1 18

Sharyland Pioneer 5 3 15

Edinburg Vela 5 3 14

Roma 3 5 10

Rio Grande City 1 7 3

Mission Veterans 0 7 0

District 32-5A

District

Team W L Pts

Brownsville Porter 9 0 26

PSJA Southwest 7 2 22

Donna North 5 4 15

Brownsville Pace 5 4 14

Donna High 4 5 13

Mercedes 4 5 11

PSJA High 1 8 4

Edcouch-Elsa 1 8 3

District 31-4A

District

Team W L Pts

Hidalgo 6 1 18

Grulla 5 1 15

Monte Alto 2 3 6

Zapata 1 4 3

Raymondville 0 5 0

District 32-4A

District

Team W L Pts

Progreso 5 0 15

Port Isabel 2 3 8

IDEA Frontier 3 2 7

La Feria 0 5 0

Girls

District 30-6A

District

Team W L Pts

McAllen Memorial 8 0 24

McAllen High 7 1 21

McAllen Rowe 5 3 14

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 3 4 9

La Joya Palmview 2 5 6

Mission High 2 6 7

La Joya High 0 8 0

District 31-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Edinburg North 7 0 21

Edinburg Economedes 6 1 18

Edinburg High 4 2 10

PSJA Memorial 3 4 10

Weslaco High 3 4 9

Weslaco East 1 6 4

PSJA North 0 7 0

District 32-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Harlingen South 8 2 24

Brownsville Hanna 8 2 24

Los Fresnos 8 2 22

Brownsville Lopez 6 4 19

Brownsville Rivera 5 5 16

Brownsville Veterans 2 8 6

Harlingen High 2 8 6

San Benito 1 9 3

District 31-5A

District

Team W L Pts

Sharyland High 8 0 24

Sharyland Pioneer 7 1 21

Edinburg Vela 5 3 15

Roma 4 4 11

Mission Veterans 2 5 6

Valley View 1 6 4

Rio Grande City 0 8 0

District 32-5A

District

Team W L Pts

Donna North 8 1 23

Edcouch-Elsa 8 1 21

PSJA Southwest 6 3 20

Brownsville Pace 6 3 18

Brownsville Porter 5 4 15

Donna High 2 7 7

Mercedes 1 8 3

PSJA High 0 9 1

District 31-4A

District

Team W L Pts

Hidalgo 5 0 15

Grulla 2 2 6

Raymondville 2 2 6

Monte Alto 0 5 0

District 32-4A

District

Team W L Pts

La Feria 7 0 21

Progreso 5 2 15

Rio Hondo 3 3 9

Port Isabel 3 4 9

Lyford 1 5 4

IDEA Frontier 1 6 2

GIRLS

Tuesday, Feb. 24

District 30-6A

McAllen Memorial 7, La Joya High 0

McAllen Rowe 2, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 1

McAllen High 3, Mission High 0

District 31-6A

Edinburg North 1, Edinburg Economedes 0

Edinburg High 5, PSJA North 1

Weslaco High at Weslaco East, not reported

District 32-6A

Brownsville Hanna 3, Harlingen High 2

Brownsville Rivera 3, Brownsville Veterans 2

Los Fresnos 2, San Benito 0

Harlingen South 1, Brownsville Lopez 0

District 31-5A

Sharyland Pioneer 6, Valley View 1

Sharyland High 5, Edinburg Vela 0

Roma at Rio Grande City, not reported

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 5, Donna High 2

Brownsville Pace 3, Mercedes 0

Donna North 6, Brownsville Porter 1

PSJA High at Edcouch-Elsa, not reported

District 32-4A

La Feria 3, Rio Hondo 0

Friday, Feb. 27

District 30-6A

McAllen Memorial at McAllen Rowe, 6 p.m.

La Joya Palmview at Mission High, 6 p.m.

McAllen High at La Joya, 6 p.m.

District 31-6A

Weslaco High at PSJA North, 7 p.m.

PSJA Memorial at Edinburg Economedes, 7:30 p.m.

Edinburg North at Weslaco East, 8 p.m.

District 32-6A

Brownsville Lopez at Brownsville Rivera, 7:15 p.m.

Brownsville Veterans Memorial at Brownsville Hanna, 7:15 p.m.

Los Fresnos at Harlingen South, 7:15 p.m.

Harlingen High at San Benito, 7:15 p.m.

District 31-5A

Mission Veterans at Sharyland High, 8 p.m.

Edinburg Vela at Roma, 8 p.m.

Rio Grande City at Sharyland Pioneer, 8 p.m.

District 32-5A

Donna North at Mercedes, 7:30 p.m. (Mercedes says away)

PSJA Southwest at PSJA High, 7:30 p.m.

Brownsville Pace at Donna High, 7:30 p.m. (Pace says home)

Edcouch-Elsa at Brownsville Porter, 7:30 p.m.

District 31-4A

Grulla at Hidalgo, 6 p.m.

District 32-4A

La Feria at Progreso, 6 p.m.

Port Isabel at Lyford, 6 p.m.

Girls Soccer

DISTRICT 30-6A

Mcallen memorial 7, La joya High 0

McAllen Memorial 3 4 — 7

La Joya High 0 0 — 0

McAllen memorial (7) — Leslie Flores, 3. Amy Guthrie, 1. Connie Avila, 1.

RECORDS: McAllen Memorial (7-0); La Joya High (0-7)

McAllen Rowe 2, La Joya juarez lincoln 1

McAllen Rowe 0 2 — 2

La Joya Juarez Lincoln 0 1 — 1

McAllen rowe (2) — Victoria Castro, 2.

La Joya Juarez lincoln (1) — Not Reported

RECORDS: McAllen Rowe (5-2); La Joya Juarez Lincoln (3-4)

McAllen High 3, Mission High 0

McAllen High 1 2 — 3

Mission High 0 0 — 0

McAllen High (3) — Shaney Warren, 1. Jackie Lemus, 1. Serena Cervantes, 1.

RECORDS: McAllen High (6-1); Mission High (1-6)

District 31-6A

Edinburg north 1, Edinburg Economedes 0

Edinburg North 1 0 — 1

Edinburg Economedes 0 0 — 0

Edinburg North (1) — Beth Ramos, 1.

Edinburg Economedes (0) — Not Reported

RECORDS: Edinburg Economedes (5-1); Edinburg North (6-0)

District 31-5A

SHARYLAND Pioneer 6, Valley View 1

Valley View 0 1 — 1

Sharyland Pioneer 3 3 — 6

Valley View (1) — Not reported

Sharyland Pioneer (6) — Andrea Reyes, 2. Hannah Padilla, 1. Astrid Cavazos, 1. Savannah James, 1; Carolina Guerrero, 1.

RECORDS: Sharyland Pioneer (6-1); Valley View (4-3)

Sharyland High 5, Edinburg Vela 0

Sharyland High 4 1 — 5

Edinburg Vela 0 0 — 0

Sharyland High (5) — Vanessa Guevara, 3. Nallely Garza, 1. Kaitie Watson, 1.

Edinbur VeLa (0) —

RECORDS: Sharyland High (6-1); Edinburg Vela (4-3)

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 5, Donna High 2

Donna High 2 0 — 2

PSJA Southwest 2 3 — 5

PSJA Southwest (5) — Karla Olivarez, 2. Lizeth Cantu, 1. Salma Gonzalez, 1.

Donna (2) — Not reported

RECORDS: PSJA Southwest (5-3); Donna High (2-6)

DONNA NORTH 6, BROWNSVILLE PORTER 1

Brownsville Porter 1 0 — 1

Donna North 4 2 — 6

DONNA NORTH (6) — Elizabeth Reyes 3, Ariel Perez 2, Betzaida Zuniga 1.

BROWNSVILLE PORTER (1) — Not reported

RECORDS: Donna North (11-3, 7-1); Brownsville Porter (5-3)

BOYS

Tuesday, Feb. 24

District 30-6A

McAllen High 6, Mission High 0

La Joya High 1, McAllen Memorial 0

McAllen Rowe at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, not reported

District 31-6A

PSJA North 5, Edinburg High 1

Weslaco High at Weslaco East, not reported

Edinburg North at Edinburg Economedes, not reported

District 32-6A

Brownsville Rivera 8, Brownsville Veterans 0

Brownsville Hanna 4, Harlingen High 1

Brownsville Lopez 3, Harlingen South 1

District 31-5A

Valley View 2, Sharyland Pioneer 0

Sharyland High 3, Edinburg Vela 1

Rio Grande City at Roma, not reported

District 32-5A

Brownsville Porter 2, Donna North 0

Mercedes 1, Brownsville Pace 0

Donna High 2, PSJA Southwest 1

PSJA High at Edcouch-Elsa, not reported

District 31-4A

Hidalgo at Zapata, not reported

District 32-4A

Port Isabel at La Feria, not reported

Friday, Feb. 27

District 30-6A

La Joya High at McAllen High, 7:30 p.m.

McAllen Memorial at McAllen Rowe, 7:30 p.m.

La Joya Palmview at Mission High, 8 p.m.

District 31-6A

PSJA Memorial at Edinburg Economedes, 6 p.m.

Weslaco High at PSJA North, 6 p.m.

Edinburg North at Weslaco East, 6 p.m.

District 32-6A

Brownsville Rivera at Brownsville Lopez, 7:15 p.m.

Brownsville Hanna at Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 7:15 p.m.

Harlingen South at Los Fresnos, 7:15 p.m.

San Benito at Harlingen High, 7:15 p.m.

District 31-5A

Sharyland High at Mission Veterans, 7:30 p.m.

Sharyland Pioneer at Rio Grande City, 8 p.m.

Roma at Edinburg Vela, 8 p.m.

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest at PSJA High, 5:30 p.m.

Donna North at Mercedes, 6 p.m.

Brownsville Pace at Donna, 6 p.m.

Edcouch-Elsa at Brownsville Porter, 6 p.m.

District 32-4A

La Feria at Progreso, 7:30 p.m.

Brownsville IDEA Frontier at Port Isabel, 6 p.m.

District 31-4A

Grulla at Hidalgo, 7 p.m.

Zapata at Raymondville, 6 p.m.

DISTRICT 30-6A

Mcallen High 6, Mission High 0

Mission High 0 0 — 0

McAllen High 3 3 — 6

Mission HigH (0) —

McAllen High (6) — Luis Ochoa, 3. Adrian Rodriguez, 2. Brandon Rangel, 1.

RECORDS: McAllen High (6-1); Mission High (4-3)

District 31-6A

PSJA North 5, edinburg High 1

Edinburg High 0 1 — 1

PSJA North 2 3 — 5

Edinburg High (1) — Not Reported

PSJA North (5) — Gustavo Conejo, 1. Jonathan Aguilera, 2. Margarito Carpio, 1. Juan Rodriguez, 1.

RECORDS: PSJA North (4-2); Edinburg High (4-2)

District 31-5A

Sharyland High 3, Edinburg Vela 1

Sharyland High 2 1 — 3

Edinburg Vela 1 0 — 1

Sharyland High (3) — Edson Silva, 3.

Edinburg Vela (1) — Not Reported

RECORDS: Sharyland High (6-1); Edinburg Vela (4-3)

valley View 2, Sharyland Pioneer 0

Valley View 1 1 — 2

Sharyland Pioneer 0 0 — 0

Valley View (2) — Rafael Garcia, 1. Avinadan Garcia, 1.

Sharyland Pioneer (0) —

RECORDS: Valley View (6-1); Sharyland Pioneer (4-3)

DISTRICT 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 4, Donna High 2

PSJA Southwest 2 2 — 4

Donna High 2 1 — 3

PSJA Southwest (4) — Luis Escudero, 2. Ivan Calderon, 1. Uriel Garcia, 1.

Donna High (3) — Not Reported

RECORDS: PSJA Southwest (6-2); Donna High (4-4)