BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

After losing seven starters off a senior-heavy team that made a run to the regional quarterfinals last season, Edcouch-Elsa coach Juan Romero knew he would have a young squad in 2015. What he didn’t know was that the Yellowjackets would be this good.

At the midpoint of the season in District 32-5A, Edcouch-Elsa is 6-1 and primed to make a return trip to the playoffs.

“Those young girls have adapted quickly. That’s been a huge part of it,” Romero said. “I did feel that we might struggle, but they didn’t let it happen.”

Romero said the team’s biggest strength has been in the midfield, with sophomore Leslie Alvarado, sophomore Genesis Martinez and freshman Madeline Acevedo. Alvarado was the team’s leading scorer in district play last season, but Martinez and Acevedo are varsity newcomers. Despite the inexperience, Romero said the group has shown great maturity and chemistry.

“The midfielders have been making a huge impact defensively and offensively,” Romero said. “They have been the ones that have been carrying the team this year.”

Romero said the team “started off slow” in non-district play but has made major improvements since. The biggest jump has been defensively, where the team had to replace all but goalkeeper Ali Reyes.

“We have had coaches after games that have come and tell me, ‘What an awesome keeper,’” Romero said. “She has been key, and she knew she had her work cut out for her this year. I’m actually very happy to have her, and I’m glad that I’m going to have her another year. She’s a special girl, and one of the best, if not the best goalkeepers, I’ve had in Edcouch-Elsa history.”

RISING UP

After two trying seasons, a core group of seniors is leading the Edinburg Vela SaberCats girls soccer team on a playoff push.

The SaberCats finished 3-13 in 2013 and 4-12 in 2014 — Vela’s first two years of existence — but are off to a 4-2 start this year in District 31-5A. The only two losses have come against Sharyland High and Sharyland Pioneer.

“Now in our third year, the district is still tough. But the girls have a little bit more experience,” coach Hugo Leal said. “I have a little bit more experience. And everything is working a little better for us. Now we know what we can expect from every game, from every team. That’s why we’re doing a little bit better.”

Vela boasts four seniors who have been varsity players since their freshman year: keeper Mayra Ibarra, defender Alannah Chavez, midfield Carolina Cortez and midfielder Sommer Vanhook. The SaberCats also have two seniors in their second year on varsity: midfielders Samantha Garza and Bryanna Montano.

Chery Chavez, a sophomore, is the team’s forward and leading scorer with 14 goals dating back to preseason scrimmages.

“Three years building a program makes a difference, especially in the mentality of the kids,” Leal said. “They already know what is expected of them and how to execute those things.”

At first, the girls simply needed time to learn and adjust to Leal’s system. Now, they’re hoping for a trip to the playoffs and a potential run.

“This year I know and the girls know, ‘This is your year,’” Leal said. “We’re going to try to make it happen.”

DISTRICT SHAKEUP

The landscape of District 30-6A on the boys side changed substantially this week. Preseason favorites La Joya Juarez-Lincoln and La Joya Palmview fell back to the pack after going a combined 0-4, while McAllen Memorial and La Joya High each picked up two wins to move back into contention. All four of those teams currently sit at 3-3 and will be looking to make up ground on 4-2 Mission High and 5-1 McAllen High, which has not lost since its district opener.

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

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

Soccer standings through Feb. 20

Boys

District 30-6A

District

Team W L Pts

McAllen High 5 1 14

Mission High 4 2 12

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 3 3 11

La Joya Palmview 3 3 9

La Joya High 3 3 9

McAllen Memorial 3 3 8

McAllen Rowe 0 6 0

District 31-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Edinburg North 5 0 13

Edinburg Economedes 4 1 12

Edinburg High 4 1 10

PSJA North 3 2 10

Weslaco East 1 4 4

PSJA Memorial 1 5 4

Weslaco High 0 5 1

District 32-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Brownsville Rivera 8 0 24

Brownsville Lopez 6 2 19

Brownsville Hanna 6 2 18

Brownsville Veterans 4 4 13

Harlingen South 4 4 11

Los Fresnos 2 6 6

San Benito 2 6 5

Harlingen High 0 8 0

District 31-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Sharyland High 5 1 15

Valley View 5 1 15

Sharyland Pioneer 4 2 12

Edcinburg Vela 4 2 12

Roma 2 4 6

Rio Grande City 1 5 3

Mission Veterans 0 4 0

District 32-5A

District

Team W L Pts

Brownsville Porter 7 0 20

PSJA Southwest 5 2 16

Brownsville Pace 4 3 12

Donna North 4 3 12

Donna High 4 3 12

Mercedes 3 4 8

Edcouch-Elsa 1 6 3

PSJA High 0 7 0

District 31-4A

District

Team W L Pts

Hidalgo 4 0 12

Grulla 3 1 9

Monte Alto 1 2 3

Zapata 1 2 3

Raymondville 0 4 0

District 32-4A

District

Team W L Pts

Progreso 3 0 9

Port Isabel 1 2 4

IDEA Frontier 1 1 2

La Feria 0 2 0

Girls

District 30-6A

District

Team W L Pts

McAllen Memorial 6 0 18

McAllen High 5 1 15

McAllen Rowe 4 2 11

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 3 3 9

La Joya Palmview 2 4 6

Mission High 1 5 4

La Joya High 0 6 0

District 31-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Edinburg North 5 0 15

Edcinburg Economedes 5 0 15

PSJA Memorial 3 3 10

Edinburg High 3 2 7

Weslaco High 1 4 4

Weslaco East 1 4 3

PSJA North 0 5 0

District 32-6A

District

Team W L Pts

Harlingen South 7 1 21

Brownsville Hanna 6 2 18

Los Fresnos 6 2 16

Brownsville Lopez 5 3 16

Brownsville Rivera 4 4 13

San Benito 1 7 3

Brownsville Veterans 2 6 6

Harlingen High 1 7 3

District 31-5A

District

Team W L Pts

Sharyland High 6 0 18

Sharyland Pioneer 5 1 15

Edcinburg Vela 4 2 12

Roma 3 3 8

Mission Veterans 2 4 6

Valley View 1 5 4

Rio Grande City 0 6 0

District 32-5A

District

Team W L Pts

Donna North 6 1 17

Edcouch-Elsa 6 1 15

Brownsville Porter 5 2 15

PSJA Southwest 4 3 15

Brownsville Pace 4 3 13

Donna High 2 5 6

Mercedes 1 6 3

PSJA High 0 7 0

District 31-4A

District

Team W L Pts

Hidalgo 3 0 9

Grulla 2 1 6

Raymondville 1 2 3

Monte Alto 0 3 0

District 32-4A

District

Team W L Pts

La Feria 4 0 12

Progreso 4 1 12

Rio Hondo 2 2 6

Port Isabel 2 3 6

Lyford 1 3 3

IDEA Frontier 0 4 0

BOYS

Friday, Feb. 20

District 30-6A

McAllen Memorial 1, Mission High 0, PKs

McAllen High 3, La Joya Palmview 2

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

District 31-6A

Edinburg North 1, PSJA Memorial 0, PKs

Edinburg High 3, Weslaco East 0

Edinburg Economedes 3, Weslaco High 2

District 32-6A

Brownsville Lopez 3, Los Fresnos 0

Brownsville Rivera 9, Harlingen High 0

Brownsville Veterans 2, Harlingen South 0

Brownsville Hanna 3, San Benito 0

District 31-5A

Valley View 2, Roma 1

Sharyland High 3, Rio Grande City 0

Edinburg Vela 6, Mission Veterans 0

District 31-4A

Monte Alto at Hidalgo, not reported

District 32-4A

Brownsville IDEA Frontier at La Feria, not reported

Progreso at Port Isabel, not reported

Non-District

Grulla at Raymondville, not reported

Tuesday, Feb. 24

District 30-6A

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

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

Mission High at McAllen High, 8 p.m.

District 31-6A

Edinburg High at PSJA North, 8 p.m.

Weslaco High at Weslaco East, 8 p.m.

Edinburg North at Edinburg Economedes, 8 p.m.

District 32-6A

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

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

Harlingen South at Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 7:15 p.m.

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

District 31-5A

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

Edinburg Vela at Sharyland High, 8 p.m.

Rio Grande City at Roma, 8 p.m.

District 32-5A

Brownsville Porter at Donna North, 6 p.m.

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

Mercedes at Brownsville Pace, 6 p.m.

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

District 31-4A

Hidalgo at Zapata, 7 p.m.

District 32-4A

Port Isabel at La Feria, 7:30 p.m.

BOX SCORES

Friday’s Game

District 30-6A

McAllen High 3, La joya palmview 2

La Joya Palmview 0 2 — 2

McAllen High 1 2 — 3

La Joya Palmview (2) — David Almazan, 1. Lazaro Hernandez, 1.

Mcallen High (3) — Adrian Rodriguez, 2. Brandon Rangel, 1.

RECORDS: McAllen High (5-1); La Joya Palmview (3-3)

McAllen Memorial 1, Mission High 0, PKs

McAllen Memorial 0 0 — 0

Mission High 0 0 — 0

RECORDS: McAllen Memorial (3-3); Mission High (4-2)

Distirct 31-6A

Edinburg High 3, Weslaco East 0

Weslaco East 0 0 — 0

Edinburg High 1 2 — 3

Weslaco East (0) —

Edinburg High (3) — Yesse Molina 3

RECORDS: Edinburg High 8-10-1 (3-2); Weslaco East (1-4)

Edinburg north 1, PSJA Memorial 0, PKs

PSJA Memorial 0 0 — 0

Edinburg North 0 0 — 0

RECORDS: Edinburg North (5-0); PSJA Memorial (1-5)

District 31-5A

Valley View 2, Roma 1

Valley View 1 1 — 2

Roma 0 1 — 1

Valley View (2) — Abinadan Garcia, 1. Evan Alonzo, 1.

Roma (1) — not reported

RECORDS: Valley View (5-1); Roma (2-4)

SHARYLAND HIGH 3, RIO GRANDE CITY 0

Rio Grande City 0 0 — 0

Sharyland High 3 0 — 3

SHARYLAND HIGH (3) — Paul Castaneda 1, Carlos Cabrera 1, Miguel Del Rio 1

RECORDS: Valley View (5-1); Roma (2-4)

District 32-4A

Progreso 4, Port isabel 0

Port Isabel 0 0 — 0

Progreso 1 3 — 4

progreso (4): Jose Blanco 2, Luis Urrutia 2

RECORDS: Progreso (3-0); Port Isabel (1-2)

GIRLS

Friday, Feb. 20

Non-district

Sharyland Pioneer 8, Raymondville 1

District 30-6A

McAllen High 2, La Joya Palmview 0

McAllen Memorial 9, Mission High 1

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 3, La Joya High 0

District 31-6A

Edinburg Economedes 2, Weslaco High 0

Edinburg North 1, PSJA Memorial 0

Edinburg High 3, Weslaco East 0

District 32-6A

Los Fresnos 4, Brownsville Lopez 3, PKs

Brownsville Rivera 3, Harlingen High 2, OT

Harlingen South 5, Brownsville Veterans 0

Brownsville Hanna 3, San Benito 0

District 31-5A

Edinburg Vela 2, Mission Veterans 0

Sharyland High 8, Rio Grande City 0

Roma at Valley View, not reported

District 31-4A

Monte Alto at Hidalgo, not reported

District 32-4A

Progreso 3, Port Isabel 0

Brownsville IDEA Frontier at La Feria, not reported

Tuesday, Feb. 24

District 30-6A

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

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

Mission High at McAllen High, 6 p.m.

District 31-6A

Edinburg North at Edinburg Economedes, 6 p.m.

Weslaco High at Weslaco East, 6 p.m.

Edinburg High at PSJA North, 6 p.m.

District 32-6A

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

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

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

Los Fresnos at San Benito, 7:15 p.m.

District 31-5A

Sharyland High at Edinburg Vela, 8 p.m.

Roma at Rio Grande City, 8 p.m.

Sharyland Pioneer at Valley View, 8 p.m.

District 32-5A

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

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

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

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

District 32-4A

Port Isabel at La Feria, 6 p.m.

BOX SCORES

Girls Soccer

District 30-6A

McAllen Memorial 9, Mission High 1

McAllen Memorial 5 4 — 9

Mission High 0 1 — 1

McAllen memorial (9) — Cameron Alaniz, 3. Deidra De La Rosa, 2. Daisy Robles, 2. Jackie Quintero, 1. Natalie Young, 1.

Mission high (1) — not reported

RECORDS: McAllen Memorial (6-0); Mission High (1-5)

Mcallen high 2, la joya palmview 0

La Joya Palmview 0 0 — 0

McAllen High 0 2 — 2

McAllen high (2) — Jackie Lemus, 1. Dana Idrogo 1.

RECORDS: McAllen High (5-1); La Joya Palmview (2-4)

La joya Juarez-Lincoln 3, La Joya High 0

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 0 3 — 3

La Joya High 0 0 — 0

LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN (3) — Clarissa Aariaga 2, Jennifer Guzman 1.

RECORDS: La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (3-3); La Joya High (0-6)

District 31-6A

Edinburg Economedes 2, Weslaco High 0

Edinburg Economedes 1 1 — 2

Weslaco High 0 0 — 0

Edinburg Economedes (2) — Ayssa Ozuna, 1. Victoria Salas, 1.

Weslaco High (0) —

RECORDS: Edinburg Economedes (5-0); Weslaco High (1-4)

Edinburg North 1, PSJA Memorial 0

Edinburg North 1 0 — 1

PSJA Memorial 0 0 — 0

Edinburg north (1) — not reported

PSJA Memorial (0) —

RECORDS: PSJA Memorial (3-3); Edinburg North (5-0)

District 31-5A

Edinburg Vela 2, Mission Veterans 0

Edinburg Vela 2 0 — 2

Mission Veterans 0 0 — 0

Edinburg Vela (2) — Samantha Garza, 1. Alexis Mendoza, 1

Mission Veterans (0) —

RECORDS: Edinburg Vela (4-2); Mission Veterans (2-4)

GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

A list of applicants for vacant head football coach/athletic coordinator position at PSJA Memorial was released to The Monitor on Wednesday in fulfillment of a public information request filed earlier in the month.

PSJA ISD received 30 applications for the open position, mostly from current coordinators or assistant coaches at high schools around the Valley, including seven already employed within PSJA ISD.

The position became open when Gus Cavazos decided to step down following the 2014 season to become the director of the Safe Schools Initiative for PSJA ISD.

Richard Alaniz – Head middle school coach, Laredo United Middle School

Hector Ayala – Offensive coordinator at Santa Rosa

Domingo Capelo – Most recently seventh grade football coach at Donna ISD’s Solis Middle School

Jose Chapa – Most recently offensive coordinator/assistant head football coach at PSJA Southwest

David Duty – Offensive coordinator and off-season coordinator at PSJA North

David Evans – Defensive coordinator/athletic coordinator at San BenitoEsteban Flores – Running backs coach at PSJA High

Cruz Gaitan – Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at PSJA North

Jose Garcia – Defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator at PSJA Memorial

Joe Gonzales – Offensive line coach at Port Isabel, former head coach at Raymondville

Mark Gonzalez – Defensive coordinator/first assistant head coach at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln

Omar Gonzalez – Offensive coordinator/running backs coach at PSJA High

Hunter Hamrick – Offensive coordinator at Rockdale High School

Robert Jones – Most recently head football coach at Lexington (Ky.) Public Schools

Taihi Jones – Athletics director/head football coach at Hidalgo

Pete Martinez – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at La Feria High

Leonel Mireles III – Co-offensive coordinator at Laredo United

Luis Navarro – Offensive coordinator at PSJA Memorial

Santiago Ortiz – N/A

Miguel Paredes – Associate head football coach at Central Methodist University

Moses Patterson – Defensive coordinator and safeties coach at McAllen Memorial

Michael Ramirez – Athletic coordinator/head football coach at R.L. Turner High (Carrollton)

Rene Rosales – First assistant to head football coach/assistant campus coordinator, offensive coordinator, offensive line coach at Memorial High (Spring Branch ISD, Houston)

Daniel Salinas – Defensive coordinator at PSJA Memorial

Jesus Trevino – N/A

Michael Uribe – Former athletic director/head football coach at Mercedes

Robert Valdez – Most recently athletic coordinator and head football coach at Brownsville Porter

Farrell Williams – Running backs coach at Leander Rouse

GIRLS

Tuesday, Feb. 17

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe 4, La Joya High 2

McAllen Memorial 4, La Joya Palmview 0

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at Mission High, not reported

District 31-6A

Edinburg Economedes 3, Edinburg High 1

Weslaco East 2, PSJA North 0

PSJA Memorial at Weslaco High, not reported

District 31-5A

Valley View at Sharyland High, not reported

Sharyland Pioneer at Roma, not reported

Rio Grande City at Mission Veterans, not reported

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 2, Brownsville Pace 1

Donna North 9, PSJA High 0

Brownsville Porter at Mercedes, not reported

Donna High at Edcouch-Elsa, not reported

District 31-4A

Hidalgo at Raymondville, not reported

District 32-4A

La Feria at Lyford, not reported

Port Isabel at Rio Hondo, not reported

Friday, Feb. 20

Non-district

Raymondville at Sharyland Pioneer, 8 p.m.

District 30-6A

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

McAllen Memorial at Mission High, 8 p.m.

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

District 31-6A

Edinburg Economedes at Weslaco High, 6 p.m.

Weslaco East at Edinburg High, 6 p.m.

Edinburg North at PSJA Memorial, 6 p.m.

District 32-6A

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

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

Brownsville Veterans Memorial at Harlingen South, 7:15 p.m.

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

District 31-5A

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

Roma at Valley View, 8 p.m.

Mission Veterans at Edinburg Vela, 8 p.m.

District 31-4A

Monte Alto at Hidalgo, 6 p.m.

District 32-4A

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

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

District 30-6A

McAllen Memorial 4, La Joya Palmview 0

McAllen Memorial 3 0 — 4

La Joya Palmview 0 0 — 0

McAllen memorial (4) — Leslie Flores, 2. Avery Morgan, 1. Leslie Santana, 1.

RECORDS: McAllen Memorial (5-0); La Joya Palmview (2-3)

McAllen Rowe 4, La Joya HIGH 2

McAllen Rowe 2 2 — 4

La Joya High 0 2 — 2

McAllen ROWE (4) — Victoria Castro 2, Veronica Dougherty 1, Andrea Sosa 1.

RECORDS: McAllen Rowe (4-2); La Joya High (0-5)

District 31-6A

Weslaco East 2, PSJA North 0

PSJA North 0 0 — 0

Weslaco East 0 0 — 2

WEslaco East (2) — Kiara Pena, 1. Clarissa Hernandez, 1.

RECORDS: Weslaco East (1-3); PSJA North (0-5)

Edinburg Economedes 3, Edinburg High 1

Edinburg High 0 1 — 1

Edinburg Economedes 2 1 — 3

Edinburg High (1) — not reported

Edinburg Economedes (3) — Rita Zapata 1; Arandi Platas 2

RECORDS: Edinburg High (2-2); Edinburg Economedes (4-0)

District 32-5A

Donna north 9, PSJA High 0

Donna North 6 3 — 9

PSJA High 0 0 — 0

Donna North (9) — Elizabeth Reyes 3; Ariel Perez 2; Betzy Zuniga 1; Yamilex Gomez 1; Sury Morales 1; Esmer Meza 1;

RECORDS: Donna North 10-3 (6-1); PSJA High (0-7)

PSJA Southwest 2, Brownsville Pace 1

PSJA Souwthwest 2 0 — 2

Brownsville Pace 0 1 — 1

PSJA Southwest (2) — Jennifer Velez, 2

Brownsville Pace (1) — not reported

RECORDS: PSJA Southwest (4-3); Brownsville Pace (4-3)

BOYS

Tuesday, Feb. 17

District 30-6A

Mission High 2, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 1, PKs

McAllen Memorial 1, La Joya Palmview 0

McAllen Rowe at La Joya High, not reported

District 31-6A

Edinburg High 2, Edinburg Economedes 1, PKs

PSJA North 4, Weslaco East 0

Weslaco High at PSJA Memorial, not reported

District 32-6A

Brownsville Lopez at Brownsville Veterans Memorial, not reported

Brownsville Rivera at San Benito, not reported

Los Fresnos at Brownsville Hanna, not reported

Harlingen South at Harlingen High, not reported

District 31-5A

Valley View 1, Sharyland High 0

Sharyland Pioneer 5, Roma 1

Mission Veterans at Rio Grande City, not reported

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 4, Brownsville Pace 2

PSJA High at Donna North, not reported

Donna High at Edcouch-Elsa, not reported

Brownsville Porter at Mercedes, not reported

District 32-4A

Progreso 7, La Feria 0

Brownsville IDEA Frontier at Port Isabel, not reported

District 31-4A

Raymondville at Hidalgo, not reported

Friday, Feb. 20

District 30-6A

Mission High at McAllen Memorial, 6 p.m.

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

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

District 31-6A

PSJA Memorial at Edinburg North, 8 p.m.

Weslaco East at Edinburg High, 8 p.m.

Edinburg Economedes at Weslaco High, 8 p.m.

District 31-5A

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

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

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

District 31-4A

Monte Alto at Hidalgo, 7 p.m.

District 32-4A

Brownsville IDEA Frontier at La Feria, 7:30 p.m.

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

Non-District

Grulla at Raymondville, 6 p.m.

District 30-6A

Mcallen memorial 1, La joya palmview 0

McAllen Memorial 0 1 — 1

La Joya Palmview 0 0 — 0

Mcallen Memorial (1) — Jorge Flores, 1.

RECORDS: McAllen Memorial (2-3); La Joya Palmview (3-2)

Mission High 2, La JoyA Juarez Lincoln 1, PKs

La Joya Juarez Lincoln 0 1 — 1

Mission High 1 0 — 1

La Joya juarez lincoln (1) — not reported

Mission High (1) — Manuel Rojas, 1.

RECORDS: Mission High (4-1); La Joya Juarez Lincoln (3-2)

District 31-6A

PSJA North 4, WESLACO EAST 0

PSJA North 1 3 — 4

Weslaco East 0 0 — 0

PSJA NORTH (4) — Gustavo Conejo 2, Margarito Carpio 1, Juan Rodriguez 1.

RECORDS: PSJA North (3-2); Weslaco East (1-3)

District 31-5A

SHARYLAND PIONEER 5, ROMA 1

Roma 0 1 — 1

Sharyland Pioneer 3 2 — 5

SHARYLAND PIONEER (5) — Diego Ramirez 2, Javier Rodriguez 1, Ricky Ramos 1, Matthew Guerra 1.

RECORDS: Sharyland Pioneer (4-2); Roma (2-3)

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 4, Brownsville pace 2

Brownsville Pace 0 2 — 2

PSJA Southwest 3 1 — 4

PSJA Southwest (4) — Luis Escudero 2, Michael Martin 1, Miguel Vasquez 1.

RECORDS: PSJA Southwest (5-2); Brownsville Pace (4-3)

District 32-4A

Progreso 7, la feria 0

Progreso 4 3 — 7

La Feria 0 0 — 0

PROGRESO (7) — Heriberto Gomez 2, Rogelio Zamora 2, Hector Avila 1, Cristian Chavez 1, Jose Blanco 1.

RECORDS: Progreso (2-0)

BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — As Edinburg High senior Juan Alcala stepped up to the final penalty kick of Tuesday’s game, he noticed that Economedes goalie Fernie Lopez was leaning just slightly to the side.

Alcala took advantage by putting as hard a shot as he could straight down the middle, then sprinted to celebrate with his teammates after lifting Edinburg High to a 2-1 win (5-4 in PKs) at Economedes.

“I had to make it. We had to win this game,” Alcala said. “A lot of joy. I can’t express how I feel. It feels awesome. Just awesome, the glory.”

The win moves Edinburg High to 3-1 in District 31-6A, good for a second-place tie with Economedes. Edinburg North leads the district at 4-0.

“It was exciting,” Edinburg High coach Luis Cardenas said. “I think we played real good. Very intense. Very aggressive game from both sides.”

Edinburg High scored first with 20:09 to play. After the Bobcats initial shot inside the box was stuffed by Economedes defender Omar Puente, the loose ball came to Eduardo Cedillo about 25 yards out. Cedillo tucked his shot just under the crossbar.

Only four days after scoring twice in the final minute to pull out a miraculous win against PSJA North, Economedes was not going to be fazed by a late deficit. Brandon Perez scored the tying goal with 7:41 remaining, tapping a shot past the goalie from just a few yards out.

The Jaguars kept the pressure high the rest of the way, especially after Cedillo was sent off for picking up a second yellow card. Economedes had four corner kicks and a clean shot in the box in the final 5 minutes but could not convert.

“My kids did their best, and I praise them for that,” Economedes coach Sam Gonzalez said. “We had opportunities, but we didn’t put them in.”

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BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

Sharyland Pioneer’s boys soccer team isn’t one of the Valley’s most talented. Coach Alex Lopez said Pioneer doesn’t even compare to Sharyland High from a talent standpoint.

The Diamondbacks also don’t have the advantage of experience, especially together. Most of them are in their first year on varsity. Some played JV light at Sharyland last year, while others played JV dark. Freshmen and a transfer are also among the key contributors.

But those factors haven’t kept Pioneer from enjoying early success, as the team handed Valley View its first district loss since 2011 with a 2-1 win Friday in Hidalgo.

“Whatever we lack in talent, we make up in hard work,” Lopez said. “Sometimes, you don’t need a whole lot of talent. You just need a bunch of guys who can work together as a team.”

Lopez said Pioneer has been through some ups and downs as the players get adjusted to playing together in his system.

The Diamondbacks got off to a middling start, going 2-3 during the Mission Tournament. They followed that with a promising showing in the Brenham Select Showcase and good results in non-district games against Edinburg Economedes and McAllen Memorial.

“We got off to a slow start, but it looks like towards the end we’ve been finding our rhythm,” Lopez said.

Two of the Diamondbacks’ biggest contributors to this point have been seniors Ricky Ramos and Sergio Arciniega. Diego Ramirez has also been key from the forward position, using his speed to become the team’s primary scorer.

Lopez said he thinks Pioneer has what it takes to be a contender in District 31-5A.

“When we first started, I just really felt the team was kind of all over the place,” Lopez said. “I knew coming in it was going to be a challenge. I knew coming in I was going to have to put in a lot of work, and we have. … We’re not quite where I want to be, but we’re better than I expected at this point.”

QUESTION ANSWERED

If McAllen Memorial’s girls team was going to have a weak spot this year, it would be on the defensive end: the only place the Mustangs weren’t returning a full complement of starters.

But only a few weeks into the season, those questions have mostly been answered. With Natalie Young sliding back from midfielder to stopper before the season and Jessica Coronado in her fourth year as the starter at sweeper, Memorial has rarely been scored on this season. After picking up a 3-0 win against La Joya High to open district play last week, Memorial has lost just once this season — 2-1 to Los Fresnos in the final of the Brownsville Tournament.

“There has been really good play from the defense,” Mustangs coach Matthew Kaiser said. “I’m really happy with how the defense hasn’t missed a beat.”

Young was one of the Mustangs outside defenders during her freshman year before moving into a defensive midfield role when Memorial’s starter at the position was injured during Young’s sophomore year.

Kaiser described both Young and Coronado as “track stars,” with the speed to take away the long ball from opposing offenses.

The Mustangs defense also boasts a pair of three-year starters at the outside positions and Brianah Munoz in goal.

SCORING THREAT

For La Joya Juarez-Lincoln boys coach Victor Ramos, the reason behind moving David Segura from midfielder to forward was simple.

“He’s dangerous when he has the ball one on one,” Ramos said. “I have not seen a defender that can stop him one on one. That’s why he’s out there.”

Ramos said the transition has been tough for Segura at times. In some cases, he is still trying to make a play for his teammates when he could be looking to score.

Overall, the move has been a positive for Juarez-Lincoln, which has suffered a few tough losses but opened district play with a 2-0 win against McAllen Rowe last week.

“It’s been working for us,” Ramos said. “He’s a very talented kid. Whenever he has the ball, he creates opportunities.”

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Boys Top 10
1. Brownsville Rivera
2. Brownsville Porter
3. Edinburg North
4. Valley View
5. Brownsville Lopez
6. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln
7. La Joya Palmview
8. Brownsville Hanna
9. Sharyland High
10. PSJA Southwest

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

BOYS SOCCER SCHEDULE

Friday, Jan. 30

Non-District

Edinburg North 3, Hidalgo 1

Raymondville at Edinburg High, not reported

District 30-6A

McAllen High at Mission High, not reported

McAllen Memorial at La Joya High, not reported

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at McAllen Rowe, not reported

District 32-6A

Brownsville Rivera 3, Brownsville Veterans Memorial 0

Brownsville Hanna 6, Harlingen High 0

Los Fresnos 3, San Benito 2

Harlingen South at Brownsville Lopez, not reported

District 31-5A

Sharyland Pioneer at Valley View, not reported

Sharyland High at Edinburg Vela, not reported

Roma at Rio Grande City, not reported

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 3, PSJA High 0

Mercedes at Donna North, not reported

Donna High at Brownsville Pace, not reported

Brownsville Porter at Edcouch-Elsa, not reported

Tuesday, Feb. 3

District 30-6A

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

McAllen Rowe at McAllen Memorial, 6 p.m.

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

District 31-6A

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

Edinburg Economedes at PSJA Memorial, 8 p.m.

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

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

Edinburg Vela at Roma, 8 p.m.

District 32-5A

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

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

Mercedes at Donna, 7:30 p.m.

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

District 31-4A

Hidalgo at Monte Alto, 7 p.m.

Non-District

Marine Military Academy at Brownsville St. Joseph, 6 p.m.

Progreso at Raymondville, 6 p.m.

BOYS BOX SCORES

Friday’s Game

District 31-6A

EDINBURG NORTH 3, HIDALGO 1

EDINBURG NORTH 1 2 — 3

HIDALGO 1 0 — 1

EDINBURG NORTH (3): Leobardo Cazares 1, Diego Sanchez 1, Leonel Rivas 1.

District 32-5A

psja southwest 3, psja high 0

PSJA HIGH 0 0 — 0

PSJA SOUTHWEST 1 2 — 3

PSJA SOUTHWEST (3): Luis Escudero 2, Miguel Vasquez 1.

RECORDS: PSJA SOUTHWEST (2-0 district); PSJA HIGH (0-2 district)

GIRLS SOCCER SCHEDULE

Friday, Jan. 30

Non-district

La Feria at Weslaco High, not reported

Edinburg High at Mission Veterans, not reported

District 30-6A

McAllen High 5, Mission High 0

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at McAllen Rowe, not reported

McAllen Memorial at La Joya High, not reported

District 32-6A

Brownsville Lopez 1, Harlingen South 0

Brownsville Rivera 1, Brownsville Veterans Memorial 0

Brownsville Hanna 4, Harlingen High 0

Los Fresnos 5, San Benito 0

District 31-5A

Edinburg Vela at Sharyland High, not reported

Rio Grande City at Roma, not reported

Valley View at Sharyland Pioneer, not reported

District 32-5A

Brownsville Pace 2, Donna High 0

Edcouch-Elsa 2, Brownsville Porter 1, PKs

PSJA Southwest 5, PSJA High 1

Donna North 4, Mercedes 0

Brownsville Porter at Edcouch-Elsa, not reported

Monday, Feb. 2

District 30-6A

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

Tuesday, Feb. 3

District 30-6A

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

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

District 31-6A

Edinburg Economedes at PSJA Memorial, 6 p.m.

PSJA North at Weslaco High, 6 p.m.

Weslaco East at Edinburg North, 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, 8 p.m.

Roma at Edinburg Vela, 8 p.m.

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

District 32-5A

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

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

Brownsville Pace at PSJA High, 6 p.m.

Donna High at Mercedes, 6 p.m. (Donna says home)

District 31-4A

Monte Alto at Hidalgo, 7:30 p.m.

GIRLS BOX SCORES

Friday’s Games

District 30-6A

MCALLEN hIGH 5, MISSION HIGH 0

MCALLEN HIGH 0 5 — 5

MISSION HIGH 0 0 — 0

mcallen high (5): Dana Idrogo, Quetzal Toren, Kari Guerra, Laura Sanchez and Salma Casas.

RECORDS: MCALLEN HIGH (8-3-5, 1-0 district); MISSION HIGH (0-1 district)

District 32-5A

DONNA NORTH 4, MERCEDES 0

DONNA NORTH 2 2 — 4

MERCEDES 0 0 — 0

DONNA NORTH (4): Betzaida Zuniga 2, Elizabeth Reyes 2.

RECORDS: DONNA NORTH (5-3, 1-1 district); MERCEDES (0-2 district)

PSJA SOUTHWEST 5, PSJA HIGH 1

PSJA HIGH 0 1 — 1

PSJA SOUTHWEST 1 4 — 5

PSJA SW (5) — Lizette Cantu 2, Salma Gonzalez 2, Alisa Mendoza 1.

RECORDS: PSJA Southwest (2-0 district); PSJA (0-2 district)

BOYS SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Jan. 27

Non-District

Sharyland Pioneer at McAllen Memorial, not reported

Progreso at Hidalgo, not reported

McAllen High at Weslaco High and Weslaco East, not reported

Edinburg High at Edinburg Vela, not reported

Brownsville IDEA Frontier at Brownsville St. Joseph, not reported

Grulla at La Feria, not reported

District 32-6A

Brownsville Lopez at Los Fresnos, not reported

Brownsville Rivera 7, Harlingen High 0

Brownsville Veterans Memorial at Harlingen South, not reported

San Benito at Brownsville Hanna, not reported

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 1, Donna High 0

Edcouch-Elsa 3, PSJA High 2

Donna North at Brownsville Porter, not reported

Brownsville Pace at Mercedes, not reported

Friday, Jan. 30

Non-District

Raymondville at Edinburg High, 6 p.m.

Edinburg North at Hidalgo, 7 p.m.

District 30-6A

McAllen High at Mission High, 6 p.m.

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

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

District 32-6A

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

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

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

Los Fresnos at San Benito, 7:15 p.m.

District 31-5A

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

Sharyland High at Edinburg Vela, 8 p.m.

Roma at Rio Grande City, 8 p.m.

District 32-5A

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

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

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

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

GIRLS SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Jan. 27

Non-district

McAllen Rowe 5, PSJA North 1

La Feria at Weslaco East, not reported

Rio Grande City at Edinburg High, not reported

Edinburg Vela at Edinburg North, not reported

Misson Veterans at La Joya Palmview, not reported

Laredo Alexander at McAllen Memorial, not reported

Valley View at Raymondville, not reported

District 32-6A

Brownsville Lopez 1, Los Fresnos 0, OT

Brownsville Rivera 3, Harlingen High 1

Brownsville Hanna 2, San Benito 0

Harlingen South at Brownsville Veterans Memorial, not reported

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest 1, Donna High 0

Edcouch-Elsa 2, PSJA High 0

Brownsville Porter 2, Donna North 1

Mercedes 3, Brownsville Pace 1

District 31-4A

Hidalgo at Progreso, not reported

Friday, Jan. 30

Non-district

La Feria at Weslaco High, 6 p.m.

Edinburg High at Mission Veterans, 6 p.m.

District 30-6A

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

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

McAllen High at Mission High, 8 p.m.

District 32-6A

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

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

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

San Benito at Los Fresnos, 7:15 p.m.

District 31-5A

Edinburg Vela at Sharyland High, 8 p.m.

Rio Grande City at Roma, 8 p.m.

Valley View at Sharyland Pioneer, 8 p.m.

District 32-5A

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

Mercedes at Donna North, 6 p.m. (Mercedes says home)

Donna at Brownsville Pace, 6 p.m.

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

GIRLS BOX SCORES

Tuesday’s Games

District 32-5A

EDCOUCH-ELSA 2, PSJA HIGH 0

PSJA High 0 0 — 0

Edcouch-Elsa 1 1 — 2

PSJA HIGH (0): None

EDCOUCH-ELSA (2): Leslie Alvarado 1; Jennifer Ramirez 1

RECORDS: PSJA High 0-1 in district; Edcouch-Elsa 1-0 in district

District 32-5A

PSJA SOUTHWEST 1, DONNA HIGH 0

PSJA Southwest 0 1 — 1

Donna High 0 0 — 0

PSJA SOUTHWEST (1): Alyssa Mendoa 1

RECORDS: PSJA Southwest 1-0 district; Donna High 0-1 district

District 32-5A

BROWNSVILLE PORTER 2, DONNA NORTH 1

Donna North 1 0 — 1

Brownsville Porter 1 1 — 2

DONNA NORTH (1): elizabeth Reyes 1

RECORDS: Donna North 4-3, 0-1 district

BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

DONNA — As PSJA Southwest’s Jorge Cantu was sprinting towards midfield in celebration of the only goal in Tuesday’s District 32-5A opener, Donna High’s Hector Ramirez crashed the party by throwing a punch.

PSJA Southwest’s bench stormed onto the field in reaction, setting off a brief skirmish with shoving and jawing on both sides as Bennie LaPrade Stadium’s PA announcer asked for security to take the field. After both teams returned to their sidelines, school and game officials met at midfield for about 10 minutes and ultimately decided to call the game with 16:01 left to play, giving PSJA Southwest a 1-0 decision.

“Some of my bench players, unfortunately they came into the field to pull back the kids to make sure they’re protected,” PSJA Southwest coach Jesus Palomin said. “They’re saying that due to that reason, they invaded the field, that they were instigating the fight. So it was a decision of the refs to stop the game. I’m shocked with this decision.”

Ramirez and Southwest’s Humberto Medina were the only players ejected from the game. Palomin said Medina approached the Donna goalie after the punch was thrown to tell him to control his players, but the referees saw it as an instigator.

Palomin said his bench players were only on the field to restrain their teammates, but Donna High coach Mario Hernandez saw them shoving players from Donna. Hernandez also took offense at Southwest’s Medina making a comment to his goalie.

“Once you score a goal, you don’t tell the goalie whatever that guy told him,” Hernandez said. “You cannot do that.”

Hernandez was most disappointed that PSJA Southwest’s players left the bench to further the conflict on the field, although he admits to not seeing the punch from Ramirez that set them off.

“Why did (Palomin) let the bench come in?,” Hernandez said. “That’s why I was upset. I told him, you have a good team and good luck on your season, and yeah we lost 1-0, but it’s just that you need to control your kids. That’s it.

“He says that they came in to stop the fight, but they came in to instigate the fight.”

Hernandez said that before he and his assistant coaches took the field to try to regain control of the situation, he made sure to tell his bench to stay put. Throughout the altercation, none of them left their seat. Meanwhile, some of the fans on the Donna side began shouting in the direction of the field, drawing a reaction from the much smaller contingent of PSJA Southwest supporters on the opposite side.

“It did start getting heated in the bleachers,” Palomin said. “The fans, they started cussing at our players. It’s like I told the ref, there’s no reason why an adult that’s on the bleachers is cussing to a 15 year old. It was uncalled for.”

Although these teams had never met before, even in a tournament setting, pushing and shoving was the norm throughout the night.

The coaches attributed the chippy play to the start of the district season, with both teams eager to prove themselves. Donna High brings back a young team after losing the majority of a roster that failed to live up to expectations last year. PSJA Southwest has made a impressive playoff runs each of the past two seasons, but is still working to establish itself as a program in only its fifth year of competition.

Southwest plays a ball control style, and Donna ramped up the pressure to try to counter.

“We noticed that they weren’t letting us play,” Palomin said. “Every few minutes or every few seconds, they were just shoving our players around.”

With Donna committing multiple players on the defensive end, Palomin pulled his forwards back towards the midfield and gave them free reign to dribble. Michael Martin took advantage of the mandate, taking control from about 30 yards out and evading three defenders before finding Cantu, who flicked home the game winner with the outside of his foot.

“We’ve experienced fouls like this, but we’ve never experienced when an opponent comes over and punches one of our players,” Palomin said. “It was unfortunate that that happened.”

[email protected]

BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

Midway through his freshman season last year, Weslaco East’s Jose Chavez was called up from JV to varsity. He was one of a number of freshman players coach David Castro had to move up during the season, as his team was struggling with eligibility issues.

Those issues and the team’s resulting youth were a big reason Weslaco East finished just 5-11 in district play — the first time in eight seasons the Wildcats failed to make the playoffs. But it’s also a big reason expectations are high for this year’s Weslaco East team, which returns a strong nucleus of players, including Chavez as a sophomore captain.

“That kid is solid on defense. He’s been working really hard,” Castro said. “He’s picked it up a notch this year. We saw some really good things.”

Castro feared that nerves would be a factor for the young players who were called up last season, but admits to being pleasantly surprised by their play.

The Wildcats didn’t get off to the strongest start this year, going 2-3 in the Mission Tournament and 2-1 in the Gulf Coast Classic, ending both tournaments in the group stages. But Castro said they were playing without a few players who have since returned to the lineup, and that the team is stronger now than it was then.

The Wildcats “expect to do really well” this year, Castro said, because of increased team chemistry. He also highlighted the play of Chavez at stopper, Saul Sauceda at sweeper, Angel Alejos in the midfield and Hector Martinez up front.

The group achieved perhaps its best result of the season on Tuesday, using a defense-first approach to play to a 1-1 draw against a highly regarded Valley View team.

“Our philosophy has always been that we’re going to defend,” Castro said. “We’re going to try to deny you. We’re going to try to limit space. And hopefully you make a mistake, and then we counter attack on your mistake.”

CHANGING STYLE

With last year’s leading scorer Diana Cobarrubias lost to graduation, the Edinburg Economedes girls soccer team has switched to a more team-oriented, defense-first style of play.

The switch is already paying early dividends for the Jaguars, who made a run to the semifinals of the Border Olympics in Laredo, reached the finals of the Brownsville Tournament and picked up two more wins last week: 1-0 over Edinburg Vela and 6-0 over Brownsville Pace.

“Last year, since we had Diana, we would give Diana the ball,” coach Robert Garcia said. “We let her go 1 on 1, and she can score. This year, since we don’t have that player, we turned to be more team oriented now. A lot of movement and passing.”

Garcia said Economedes returns the majority of the players from last year’s team, which went 11-5 in district to earn a playoff berth. He said speed is the biggest key to the Jaguars’ strong defense, which is bolstered by Carolina Pardo and Maritza Guzman. Sofia Hernandez, Krysta Armstrong and Ayssa Ozuna have been the biggest contributors on offense.

“Hopefully we’ll compete for district,” Garcia said. “Hopefully that can happen. We’ll see how it goes.”

DEFENSE FIRST

After a position change and one key return, the Edinburg North girls soccer team has developed into a strong defensive unit.

Nikki Jo Rodriguez is back at goalie for her junior season after taking her sophomore year to focus on basketball, which has allowed Sarah Whitesides to move from goalie to sweeper.

“They’re two great athletes,” coach Daniel Valdez said. “That’s helped the defense a lot.”

On offense, the Cougars have a number of returning pieces, including Gloria Gutierrez, Itzamar Rios, Anna Rios and Laura Torres. North has also been bolstered by a pair of freshmen who are already contributing: Beth Ramos and Arianna Vacio.

Melanie Moreno is working up front back after playing defense last season, and Valdez cited her as one of the team’s most improved players.

All together, Valdez believes the Cougars will be contenders in District 31-6A.

“I really think we have one of the stronger teams in district,” Valdez said. “I feel real good. I think it’s going to be between Economedes and us. I hope I’m not jinxing it.”

[email protected]

Boys Top 10
1. Brownsville Rivera
2. Valley View
3. Brownsville Porter
4. Brownsville Lopez
5. Edinburg North
6. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln
7. La Joya Palmview
8. Brownsville Hanna
9. Sharyland High
10. Edinburg Vela

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