By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

In Brownsville, the relationship between club soccer and playing the game at the high school level is a mutually beneficial one.

The most skillful teenaged soccer players tend to be those who participate in the sport year-round, and in that respect, club teams become quite important as the UIL high school season runs only from early January to March or even mid-April for the fortunate squads that qualify for the state tournament in Georgetown.

One of top club programs of the Lower Rio Grande Valley is Brownsville United, which focuses on giving girls an opportunity to play when the high schools are not in season. Other area leagues offer club opportunities to boys.

“Brownsville United was established in 2011 as a recreational league and started playing competitively in 2012,” said Brownsville United president Juan Garcia, whose son and daughter, Juanito and Natalie Garcia, played extensive club soccer and starred at Hanna before graduating within the last five years. “We have our recreational league for ages 4-18. We have a total of 20 teams at the recreational level.

“We have six teams at the middle school level and 10 at the high school level,” Garcia added. “Aside from that, we have six competitive traveling teams.”

Brownsville United’s director of operations is Cipriano Alegria and the league’s secretary is Janie Calvillo.

The goal is to give girls a chance to play throughout the year and help them improve as players to possibly obtain a college scholarship.

“The main objective is to develop players so when they get to high school, they have an opportunity to extend their playing careers to a college level and also for our girls to get to the level of our boys (who regularly send teams to the UIL state tournament),” Garcia said. “The talent is out there. Our responsibility is to provide a place for them to showcase that talent.”

It’s fairly common for the girls who play on Brownsville United squads to encounter their club teammates as opponents playing for other schools during the high school season.

The girls seem to welcome those matchups.

The Brownsville United players who play for Pace include Jill Perez and Jennifer Oliveira.

“Honestly, it’s good because you’ve played with them (as club teammates), so you already know how they play (and what to expect),” said Perez, a sophomore wing for the District 32-5A champion Pace Lady Vikings. “Yes, they’re on the opposing team (for high school games), but after the game we’re friends and we say ‘Hi’ and talk to each other. That’s the best feeling.”

Added Oliveira, a junior goalkeeper for Pace and Brownsville United, “We’re (even more) motivated to win those types of games because everyone wants bragging rights (at Brownsville United practices). We tell them, ‘Don’t even think about beating Pace this year.’ Those games (against our club teammates) are a lot of fun.

“It’s an experience (playing club and high school soccer) that you’ll never forget,” Oliveira added.

Brownsville Veterans Memorial also has a group of Brownsville United players. They include sisters Hannah and Hailey Obregon, Karime Benavides and Camila Trevino.

“My sister and I were the ones who always wanted to play (youth) soccer, but the boys would be rough on us,” said Hannah Obregon, a junior midfielder on the wing for the Lady Chargers. “Juan Garcia is actually our uncle and we were a reason he started Brownsville United. It has helped me grow as a player. I got that experience (of playing on a club team before high school) and I got to break out of my shell.

“Coming here (to Brownsville Veterans), it has helped me a lot because I came with some skills already,” Obregon added. “I get to play with a new set of girls here at high school, bring in my knowledge of the game and play the game I love (for the Lady Chargers as well).”

Added Benavides, a sophomore goalkeeper, “Obviously, we want to win and advance against the other schools (that have Brownsville United players), so we play harder to have bragging rights against them. When we’re not playing against them, we cheer for them and support them because they’re our Brownsville United teammates. It’s an honor to play with them (on our club team).”

Trevino, a freshman forward/midfielder on the wing for the Lady Chargers, appreciates her time with Brownsville United. She went from being a bench player to gaining a starting role with the Lady Chargers and credits that promotion to playing soccer all year long.

“My (club) team has grown so much and has made it to the President’s Cup, which is a really big deal,” Trevino said. “I’ve learned things that have helped me in my high school experience and helped me grow (as a player).

“I’ve learned little techniques (in club ball) that have been beneficial to me,” Trevino added. “If I hadn’t been in Brownsville United, I probably wouldn’t be as good as I am now. I hope I can continue to improve.

“Brownsville United is great. It’s like my second family.”

Brownsville United also has players from Los Fresnos, Rivera, Hanna, Lopez, Athlos Leadership Academy and La Feria.

Rivera coach Peter A. Rodriguez is grateful for the soccer skills his club players bring to their high school team and for the way they work well with those who don’t play club ball. Among the Brownsville United girls who play for the Lady Raiders are Alyssa Ayala and Brigitt Iglesias.

“I think it gives our girls a bit of motivation to play against their club teammates with their school colors (on) and represent us well,” the Lady Raiders coach said. “They’ve been to school together (with some of their club teammates) practically all their lives, so it helps that they create that sense of family attitude when going forth to show their club friends what their school team can do.

“I’m fortunate to have players who come from all different backgrounds,” Rodriguez added. “They stick it out to play soccer, at least for their school, and are still very good at it.”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

LOS FRESNOS — The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons are quickly closing in on another District 32-6A girls soccer title.

The defending 32-6A champions won 4-2 Friday against Rivera at Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium to move within one victory of the conference crown.

In the nightcap of Friday’s 32-6A doubleheader, the Rivera boys edged Los Fresnos 1-0 on a goal by Julian Espinoza with two minutes left in overtime.

Highlighting the Lady Falcons’ win was senior forward Cassy Lozano, who scored all four of her team’s goals as Los Fresnos built a 3-0 halftime lead.

“I’ve never scored four (in a game) before,” Lozano said. “I feel lucky. We had good teamwork tonight and made good passes. That’s what helped us win. Now I’m hoping we can repeat as district champs.”

The Lady Falcons (11-2, 32 points) have one more district game at home at 10 a.m. Monday. They’ll play host to Weslaco High (2-11, five points).

The girls teams of Harlingen High (10-3, 30 points) and Harlingen South (9-4, 30 points) both won Friday and could possibly pass Los Fresnos in points for the title on the final day of district play.

Rivera’s girls (9-4, 25 points) remain in fourth place in 32-6A and already have clinched a playoff berth along with Los Fresnos and the Harlingen schools.

“At this point, we knew Rivera and Weslaco High have been looking to take us out of our district championship run,” Lady Falcons coach Patricia K. Hernandez said. “We were able to defeat Rivera tonight and now we’ve got to get the job done against Weslaco on Monday.

“We can’t underestimate Weslaco,” she added. “We know they’re going to come in here and fight hard.”

Lozano caught the Rivera goalkeeper out of position and scored into an open net from the left side during the 14th minute for a 1-0 Los Fresnos advantage. Her second goal came on a high shot from the right side in the 30th minute.

Situated near the left post, Lozano put in a header off a corner kick taken by Allison Spier from the right side during the 33rd minute to make it 3-0 at intermission.

Lozano tallied her fourth goal during the 43rd minute and the score became 4-0.

Rivera’s Alyssa Ayala scored twice in the last five minutes to make the final score 4-2. Her second goal came with three seconds remaining.

The boys match was evenly contested throughout its 100 minutes of action — 80 in regulation and 20 in OT.

Espinoza, a senior midfielder, received a pass just as he was about eight yards from the goal and sent a well-placed shot into the left corner of the net out of the reach of the Falcons’ goalkeeper for the game-winner in the 98th minute.

“I just put the ball (on a track) inside towards the far (left) post and the goalkeeper didn’t have a chance at it,” Espinoza said. “It feels really magnificent when my team plays like that (and gets me that type of pass). It feels good when our team plays like that with heart.”

The Rivera boys (12-1, 35 points) stay in first place in 32-6A going into the Raiders’ final district match at noon Monday at Sams Memorial Stadium against Harlingen South.

Rivera and third-place Los Fresnos (9-4, 27 points) have both qualified for the playoffs along with second-place Hanna (11-2, 33 points).

“We told our guys before the game that it was going to be a good test because Los Fresnos is a playoff-caliber team,” Raiders coach Salvador Garcia said. “I think our players reacted well to the challenge.

“The satisfaction of it being such a close game and seeing our guys hustling and looking for the victory, that’s what makes it so great to see as a coach,” Garcia added. “Winning district would be nice, but at the same time, that’s not what we’re ultimately looking for. We have higher expectations than just winning district.”

By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE

It continues to be a soccer season to remember for the Pace Lady Vikings.

They’re just hoping and believing the best is yet to come.

The conference-leading Lady Vikings (11-0, 33 points) clinched at least a District 32-5A co-championship Tuesday at home with a decisive 5-0 triumph against second-place Donna North (8-3, 24 points), a team that figured to be their biggest challenge in district.

Tuesday’s victory marks the first district title for the Pace girls since 2009.

“This win means a lot for everyone,” said Lady Vikings coach Jesus O. Villarreal, whose squad edged Donna North 4-3 on the road a month ago during the first round of district. “I’m more than sure everyone feels proud since we clinched the top seed (for the playoffs) and district championship.

“The girls feel proud as well belonging to this program,” he added. “Despite some injuries, the girls just get stronger and stronger. They’re more attached together and adapting to the circumstances. And of course, everyone here at Pace is happy, excited and anxious for more.

“These girls have shown that nothing gets in their way from succeeding. But we are not done yet.”

Tuesday marked the first time in 11 district games this season that Donna North has been shut out.

Members of the Lady Vikings’ defense are Yadira Dominguez, Jovana Rodriguez, Vanessa Lara, Michelle Abundis, Belia Suarez and freshman goalkeeper Jazul Amaya.

Standouts on the offensive end scoring goals for Pace on Tuesday were Kryssie Rivera (two), Vianca Sandoval, Marcy Garza and Alma Perez, who recorded an Olympic goal.

The Lady Vikings, who led 3-0 at halftime Tuesday, next play at Edcouch-Elsa on Friday with an opportunity to clinch sole possession of the 32-5A championship.

A TIGHT 32-6A RACE

“Told you it’d be tougher this year,” Rivera girls coach Peter A. Rodriguez said of the District 32-6A girls race in 2018.

He was right.

After Tuesday’s results, the top four teams for 32-6A girls are defending district champion Los Fresnos (10-2, 29 points), Harlingen High (9-3, 27 points), Harlingen South (8-4, 27 points) and Rivera (9-3, 25 points). All four have clinched playoff spots with two district dates remaining.

The key district girls game on Friday concerning playoff seeding status finds Rivera at Los Fresnos at 5:30 p.m. The Rivera and Los Fresnos boys battle at 7:30 p.m. following the girls match in the 32-6A doubleheader at Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium.

The 32-6A boys race is close between the top three teams that have all clinched playoff spots. They are Rivera (11-1, 32 points), Hanna (10-2, 30 points) and Los Fresnos (9-3, 27 points).

The leading contenders chasing the fourth-place playoff berth from 32-6A are Harlingen High (4-8, 13 points), San Benito (4-8, 12 points) and Harlingen South (4-8, 12 points).

APPROPRIATE DECISION

Apparently sensing Tuesday’s 32-5A boys showdown between Brownsville Veterans Memorial and Lopez would attract a large crowd, Brownsville ISD on somewhat short notice moved the match from Porter to Sams Memorial Stadium.

Although an anticipated large crowd failed to appear, maybe due to cooler and wet weather, it was the right decision. Everyone had a place to sit and the parking didn’t become congested.

The game was originally scheduled to be played at Porter, but the seating there is just not adequate for big games. When Porter played host to Lopez in the first round of district on Jan. 26, there were almost as many fans standing and lining the field to watch the game as there were in the packed stands.

That scenario could have easily happened again at Porter on Tuesday.

Hanna and Rivera have played both of their 32-6A showdowns at Sams this season, so it was an entirely appropriate decision to have the Brownsville Veterans-Lopez match there, too.

There’s no need for so many fans to have to stand and watch a soccer game in Brownsville. Many times a lot of people will come out to see two Brownsville teams play each other, especially with a district title on the line.

In Tuesday’s showdown, the Lobos defeated the Chargers 3-1.

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

Going to college on an athletic scholarship and playing golf — could it get any better?

Hanna senior Austin O’Brien finds himself in that enviable position after signing to play his sport next school year at Schreiner University in Kerrville.

He put his name on an athletic scholarship agreement Wednesday afternoon at the Hanna gym in front of family, classmates, teachers, coaches and other Brownsville ISD personnel.

O’Brien, a top student who is known for his diligence in the classroom and on the golf course, said it may seem like an ideal circumstance, but it’s more of a willingly accepted challenge to take his golf game and academic pursuits to an even higher level.

“I’ve got to be ready for college,” said O’Brien, who is the No. 10 student academically in his senior class with a 4.76 grade-point average. “I can’t be complacent now that I’ve signed. I’ve got to keep working hard.

“My goal is to try to make it to state this year,” added O’Brien, who already has qualified for regional competition twice in previous seasons. “That’s what I’m working towards.”

The standout golfer is currently averaging 77 strokes per 18 holes and said his approach to the game is to work hard and play as many rounds as possible while taking it easy on himself mentally.

“When I was young, I would beat up on myself and be so critical of myself (for how I played),” O’Brien said. “But now I’m learning how to have fun and to just go out and play.”

He plans to pursue a double major in computer information technology and sports management.

Adrian Garcia, O’Brien’s golf coach at Hanna, firmly believes his senior co-captain is destined for success in college.

“Austin displays truly hard work,” Garcia said. “He’s No. 10 (academically) and he’s a real sharp student. It’s all hard work with him. He plays more tournaments in the summer than any junior golfer I know with his dad (Tim O’Brien) being the director of the South Texas PGA. Austin just enjoys playing golf and he’s gotten four to five strokes better every year.

“Austin has grown and matured physically,” Garcia added. “He hits it a mile (off the tee), which is very important in college. He was going to go to college strictly for academics before he decided a couple of years ago that he wanted to play golf (at the next level). So that’s where we’re at now and I’m really happy for him, his family, Hanna golf and everyone involved.”

O’Brien’s stroke average currently ranks him third in District 32-6A and seventh in the Rio Grande Valley.

“This is pretty much a dream come true for me,” he said. “I’ve been dreaming about this since I started playing around age 10. I always wanted to play college golf and now I’ve accomplished it, so I’m pretty happy.”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

The showdown of the year in District 32-5A boys soccer came Tuesday at Sams Memorial Stadium as Lopez played Brownsville Veterans Memorial.

The Lobos scored just a minute and a half into the match and wound up winning 3-1.

The victory puts Lopez in the district lead with a 10-1 record and 30 points, while Brownsville Veterans slipped to second place with a 10-1 record and 29 points.

“I saw a game with a plethora of scoring opportunities on both sides,” Lopez coach Amadeo Escandon said. “They have a powerful offensive arsenal and so do we, so it was going to come down to capitalizing on those opportunities.”

The Brownsville Veterans girls won the nightcap of the 32-5A doubleheader at Sams with a 3-0 triumph over the Lady Lobos.

When the two boys teams played each other during the first round of district on Feb. 6 at Lopez, the Lobos held leads of 2-0 and 3-1. But the Chargers fought back to tie the match 3-3 by the end of regulation, and after a scoreless overtime, they emerged as the winner on penalty kicks.

The Lobos didn’t let their lead slip away this time.

Just a minute and a half into the game, Lopez’s Baltazar Cerda scored from about eight yards away after receiving a pass from the right side by teammate Jose “Chevy” Echavarria.

The Lobos’ 1-0 advantage stood until 25 minutes remained when Cerda drilled a rocket of a direct kick into the net from about 30 yards away on the left side.

Sebastian Benavides gave Lopez a 3-0 edge by dribbling in and scoring with five minutes to go.

The Chargers scored with a minute left when Diego Bernal sent the ball into the net from close range off a corner kick taken from the right side.

It was a tough night for Brownsville Veterans as the Chargers had a shot go off the crossbar twice, once during each half.

The biggest frustration for them came eight minutes into the second half when Lopez’s Angel De La Garza, a backup goalkeeper, blocked a Chargers’ penalty-kick try to keep them scoreless. A successful PK would have enabled Brownsville Veterans to tie the game 1-1.

Meanwhile, in the girls match, the Lady Chargers won for the third straight game and stayed in the thick of the playoff race with a 7-4 record and 21 points. The Lady Lobos slipped to 5-6 and 15 points. Despite the loss, the Lopez girls still have a shot at the postseason.

The Lady Chargers led 2-0 at halftime on goals by Camila Trevino and Samantha Bodden. In the second half, Bodden added her second goal of the night to help her team win going away.

“I’m pleased and proud with the way our girls are playing,” Lady Chargers coach Luis Troncoso said. “We haven’t clinched a playoff spot yet, so we just have to keep playing one game at a time. We’ve got to take it one step at a time.

“We’re facing some adversity because we’ve lost two of our seniors to injury,” Troncoso added. “We’re finding ways to play (well and win) without them. It’s a challenge. We have a tough Porter team coming up next (on Friday).”

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

After finishing second as a team a year ago at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association Class 5A State Meet, the Lopez Lady Lobos are eager to do even better March 16 in Waco.

They gained confidence for state by winning Saturday’s Region 5 Meet at PSJA Southwest. The Lopez girls, who qualified nine lifters for state, won the combined Class 6A/5A meet in Pharr with 22 points. The runner-up team was Los Fresnos with 19 points and Hanna was third with 15. Port Lavaca, the defending 5A state champion, had 14 points.

The Lady Lobos now are preparing to have another strong showing in Waco against a field of strictly 5A competitors from around the state.

“To edge out a reigning championship team like Los Fresnos (at the Region 5 meet) means we’re taking steps in the right direction,” said Lopez powerlifting coach Matthew Barba, who is assisted by Bruce Castro. “We’re trying to put our girls in the best spot possible so they can be successful (at state).

“All nine of our state qualifiers are ranked in the top five (in their weight classifications) going into the state meet,” Barba added. “We expect all nine to be bringing in points and to be in the running for medals.”

The nine girls going to the state meet in Waco for Lopez are Norma Lee Vega, Lexi Davila and Esmeralda Saldana (all 105 pounds), Alexa Vega (114 pounds), Annahi Pizana (123 pounds), Lizette De La Fuente and Jennifer Cisneros (both 148 pounds), Melanie Quintero (198 pounds) and Julieann Delgado (259-plus pounds).

“We always help each other and bring each other up when we’re having bad days,” said Norma Vega, a junior who finished second in her 105-pound weight division at the Region 5 meet and broke a regional record for the dead lift with a 320-pound clearance. “We take care of everyone.”

Added De La Fuente, a junior who also finished second at the regional meet, “I feel honored to go to state. It’s amazing. It motivates me a lot to see the ones who are (ranked) above me because it gets me fired up to do even more and push myself to do better (so I can beat them).”

Delgado, a senior, highlighted the day Saturday for the Lady Lobos by winning her division at the Region 5 meet.

“I felt I did well by placing first on Saturday and I’m hoping to place first again at state,” she said. “I have a lot of motivation, especially from my parents, coaches and teammates.

“We put in as much hard work as we possibly can in the mornings and afternoons,” Delgado added. “It would mean so much to me for us to win a state title because I’ve been a part of powerlifting since my freshman year. My goal has always been to win a state title, not individually, but as a team. It would really make me happy.”

Also at the Region 5 meet, De La Fuente broke a squat lift regional record with a 445-pound clearance in the 148-pound division.

Alexa Vega and Melanie Quintero each tied a regional record. Alexa Vega recorded a 180-pound bench press in the 114-pound division and Quintero had a 415-pound dead lift in the 198-pound division.

“I’m excited, but nervous (to go to state),” said Quintero, a senior who took second Saturday at PSJA Southwest. “We’re pretty sure we can get first as a team at state. We’re very dedicated and we’ve been putting in the time (necessary to do well).”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

ROY HESS | The Brownsville Herald

Even though he now lives outside of Texas, Jaime Landin is a proud baseball product of Brownsville and says he always will be.

The 2001 Pace graduate, now a 34-year-old Border Patrol supervisor in New Mexico, grew up playing baseball in West Brownsville Little League, a place where many of Brownsville’s greats got their start, including former major leaguer Charlie Vaughan. That’s where he began learning to play the game the way it is intended to be played, Landin said.

From those early years in WBLL and continuing on into his time in high school and beyond, Landin, an infielder, has carried with him a dedicated, all-out approach to playing baseball.

After signing with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in 2001, he became the first four-year player in Islanders baseball history (2001-05) before enjoying a minor-league career with the Independent League Coastal Bend Aviators (2006) and the St. Louis Cardinals’ Quad Cities Swing (2007). A shoulder injury cut short his pro career.

Landin gave a lot to the game and it gave a lot to him in return. A top student, his athletic scholar-ship allowed him to attain undergraduate and master’s degrees in business administration at A&M-CC in 2005 and 2008.

What is learned in baseball carries over to life, Landin said.

“People don’t realize that you don’t just show up to play baseball,” he said. “It’s all about the preparation and the early (pre-game) work. You learn from baseball the dedication it takes to be prepared in life. That’s what has gotten me to where I’m at now.”

A milestone achievement in Landin’s life came Feb. 9 when he was inducted into A&M-CC’s Hall of Honor.

“It’s definitely very humbling,” he said. “It was never my goal to get there (and be inducted). For me, baseball has always been a game to play. It’s an honor that is a reflection of the hard work and preparation it took (to do well).”

Landin left his mark as a standout player in the Islanders’ program. He still holds several school records. Among them is his .427 batting average during his senior season of 2005. He also holds school records for his 297 career hits, 116 extra-base hits and 221 runs scored. Landin continues to hold top three marks in 12 offensive categories at A&M-CC.

As a player for the Islanders he received ESPN’s NCAA Division I All-America honors and was the NCAA Division I All Independent Team Player of the Year in 2005. Landin twice was chosen South Texas Collegiate Player of the Year. He also carried a 3.71 grade-point average at A&M-CC and earned NCAA Division I Academic All-America recognition.

“Now it’s time for the next generation (to step up and shine in baseball),” Landin said.

There are those who readily recall Landin’s exploits on the diamond at WBLL and at Pace.

One of them is Raymond Bohn, who coached Landin in high school.

“I have hundreds of positive stories I could tell about Jaime,” said Bohn, who coached the Vikings in baseball from 1998 to 2013 and now is an assistant tennis coach at Pace. “Jaime had an unbelievable drive and a commitment to be the best. He always wanted to win.

“He had it all — the fielding (ability), the bat, the speed and the desire.” Bohn added. “Sometimes as a coach you get lucky. I coached three all-staters and Jaime was one of them (along with infielder Hector Garanzuay and pitcher Jason Parker). Jaime was a heads-up player and he did the types of things you can’t even coach. If given any opportunity (to make a play), he’d take it.

“He could play at the highest level. I think he would have had more of a pro career if not for his shoulder injury. He had all the tools and he was relentless.”

Bohn said there is one thing that stands out about Landin in regard to his hometown.

“Jaime is a Brownsville product born and bred,’ Bohn said. “That sets him apart.”

Landin gladly embraces that distinction.

“I’ve been gone 16 years, but my family is still there in Brownsville and it will always be my city,” he said.

By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

LOS FRESNOS — Hello state soccer playoffs, my old friend.

The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons secured a return trip to the postseason on Friday with a 4-1 District 32-6A victory on the practice field at their high school against Hanna.

In the nightcap of Friday’s 32-6A doubleheader at the same site, the Los Fresnos boys also clinched a spot in the playoffs by prevailing 1-0 against Hanna on a penalty kick with 11 minutes remaining.

The matches were moved from Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium to the artificial turf field on the Los Fresnos High School campus due to a track meet.

The 32-6A defending champion Lady Falcons improved to 10-1 in district with 29 points. The Hanna girls slipped to 4-7 with 14 points.

The win kept Los Fresnos in first place in the district girls race.

“It’s a winning tradition here at Los Fresnos with this group of girls (and going to the playoffs is part of that),” Lady Falcons coach Patricia K. Hernandez said. “I’m happy to be here with them. They deserve the success they’re experiencing. They’ve worked really hard all season to be where they’re at.

“Right now, it’s one game at a time for us,” she added. “We have to prepare for our next opponent, which is Harlingen High, and obviously, it’s going to be a battle for the first-place spot.”

The Lady Falcons’ win was highlighted by freshman Yulianna Moreno’s hat trick.

“It felt good to help out the team,” Moreno said. “This is the best game I’ve had (as a varsity player). I’m just glad I could help out the team.

“It feels great because it’s my freshman year and we’re going to the playoffs,” she added. “I’m very happy.”

The Lady Falcons went up 1-0 during the eighth minute when Moreno scored on a header off a corner kick taken from the right side.

Hanna’s Samantha Galvan scored on a free kick taken from 35-plus yards out on the left side during the 24th minute. Her free kick hit the right post when it came in and deflected into the left corner of the net to tie the match 1-1.

The Lady Falcons tallied goals in the 35th and 37th minutes to make it 3-1 in their favor at halftime.

Cassie Lozano scored into an open net when the goalkeeper was caught out of position to make it 2-1 and Moreno was inside the penalty box when she sent a ball into the right corner of the goal on a crossing shot for a 3-1 advantage.

Moreno’s third goal during the 74th minute sealed the 4-1 triumph and the Lady Falcons’ return trip to the postseason.

The boys match was intense from start to finish. The difference came about with 11 minutes left when the Falcons’ Adrian Torres converted his PK attempt on a shot to the right corner of the net.

The playoff-bound Falcons, third place in 32-6A, are now 8-3 with 24 points. The Eagles are 9-2 with 27 points. Hanna had already secured a playoff spot prior to Friday.

“Our goal is to win district and this win puts us one step closer,” Falcons coach Javier Navarrete said. “We just clinched a trip to the playoffs, so we’re excited. I think we had a good game plan tonight. Our players believed in it and everyone saw the result.

“We played well and I thought it was a playoff atmosphere tonight,” Navarrete added. “A game like this gets us ready for the playoffs.

“In the first round of district I thought we gave Hanna a good fight, even though they won 2-0,” Navarrete added. “We’ll just keep working hard and improving the things we want to improve on.

“Taking one game at a time is all we can do. That’s been our motto all season long — ‘Have faith and take it one game at a time.'”

By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

The arrival of March means it’s time to start thinking about the UIL soccer playoffs.

Actually, two area boys teams — Hanna and Rivera from District 32-6A — clinched postseason berths with their victories Tuesday.

The 32-6A-leading Golden Eagles (9-1, 27 points) defeated Harlingen South 4-2, while the 32-6A runner-up Raiders (9-1, 26 points) downed San Benito 4-0.

It’s quite a feat in UIL soccer for a team to secure a playoff berth before the end of February. The two coaches for Hanna and Rivera view the accomplishments of their teams as a ticket to a journey in the postseason they hope will last a long time. In essence, it’s a guaranteed starting point on a path of opportunity in the playoffs.

The news of his team’s playoff qualification was a surprise to Hanna coach Reyes Prado on Wednesday because he really hadn’t given it much thought.

Meanwhile, Rivera coach Salvador Garcia had already done the math.

The Eagles and Raiders became among the first teams in the Valley — if not the first — to reach the UIL postseason in soccer.

“Wow, I truly did not know that,” Prado said when given the news. “It is a blessing being able to work with this team. Hard work pays off.

“Even though it is a blessing and making the playoffs is a privilege, the bar has been set way too high for us to be happy with just clinching a playoff spot,” Prado added.

The goal for the Raiders is to continue to improve before the bi-district playoffs start March 29, Garcia said.

“This gives us more time to work on the details that we need to fix with no pressure,” the Rivera coach said. “Hopefully the players can improve on their mentality and confidence going into the playoffs.

“We (coaches) would like to think that we are peaking at the right time,” Garcia added. “But there is still a lot of room for improvement.”

Two area girls squads are close to securing playoff berths by earning at least one point in their next matches on Friday.

The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons (9-1, 26 points) lead the 32-6A girls race and play host to fifth-place Hanna (4-6, 14 points) at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The same day, the District 32-5A-leading Pace Lady Vikings (9-0, 27 points) play host to last-place Mercedes (0-9, zero points) at 7:30 p.m.

THE RETURN OF CHICO
Jose Alfredo “Chico” Jimenez has left quite a legacy of coaching soccer in Brownsville at Lopez and then at Pace in addition to his time directing youth leagues.

Health issues slowed him down a few years ago and he last coached the Pace Vikings in 2014. He had coached at Lopez for four years before coming to Pace, where he spent 28 years coaching soccer and cross country.

“I had (recent) back surgery and my doctor told me I needed to coach soccer,” said Jimenez, 57. “The pains I had (in my back) are gone now and I’m enjoying myself. I have a relaxed atmosphere with my administrators (in McAllen ISD), especially at Rowe.”

“Chico” returned to high school soccer this season as the head coach at McAllen Rowe. He replaced the retired Eloy Moran, a former longtime Valley coach.

The Warriors play in District 30-6A.

“It’s a new challenge in my life,” Jimenez said. “I’m enjoying it. It reminds me of when I came to Pace from Lopez. We have some good players, but we’re dealing with inconsistencies in how we play. I see soccer in these players at Rowe. There’s talent in them, but they’re young. I have like six sophomores (starting). They’re learning my program and we’ll get there.”

Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess

By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

Nothing seems to be stopping the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers in the District 32-5A boys soccer race.

Playing Tuesday’s home game against Mercedes at Lopez, the Chargers (9-0, 26 points) prevailed over the Tigers 3-2 to keep their district record intact in 32-5A competition. It was a good night for the Brownsville Veterans boys and girls as the Lady Chargers won the nightcap of the 32-5A doubleheader with a 4-0 triumph over the Lady Tigers.

In the boys match, it wasn’t exactly easy, though, as the Chargers led 2-0 before the Tigers (2-7, five points) fought back to even the score at 2-2 with goals during the 56th and 62nd minutes.

The Chargers’ Jose Zamora scored on a header from the right side during the 67th minute to provide the game-winner and seal the 3-2 victory.

“It feels great to help out the team,” said Zamora, a senior central defender. “It was a crucial header.”

Added teammate Juan Amieva, a junior defensive midfielder, “We didn’t play our best game tonight, but we came out with the victory. We’re still in front (in the district race).”

The first two goals for Brownsville Veterans were scored by Mark Boswell in the eighth minute and Albert Maradiaga in the 43rd minute.

Chargers coach Alberto Vasquez said Mercedes is a dangerous team that has had some close games against Brownsville squads. In the first round of district, Lopez edged the Tigers 3-2 in overtime and Porter prevailed over them 2-1. Brownsville Veterans beat Mercedes 2-0 in the first round.

“I told the Mercedes coach the first time we played them that I thought they had a solid team,” Vasquez said. “Unfortunately, that’s the way this sport is — sometimes you win a lot of close games and sometimes you can lose a lot of close games (like Mercedes). They’ve competed very well against everybody, including us tonight.

“Things haven’t gone Mercedes’ way, and fortunately (for us) they didn’t go their way tonight,” he added. “We’re still right there (with a two-point lead in first place).”

In the girls match, scoring goals for the Lady Chargers (5-4, 15 points), who remain in the thick of the 32-5A playoff race, were Samantha Bodden (two) and one apiece by Melissa Medina and Hannah Obregon.

The Lady Chargers led 2-0 at intermission.

“We knew we had to come out and do our job tonight,” Lady Chargers coach Luis Troncoso said. “We had to correct some of the things that happened last week (in a 2-0 loss to Pace).

“I think it was more about us coming out and executing in this game and not worrying about the opponent,” Troncoso added. “We couldn’t worry about anyone but ourselves in trying to take care of the little mistakes (we made before).”