By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

As the state playoffs begin in soccer, the Hanna Golden Eagles feel confident about their chances and being well-prepared for what is ahead.

Playing in ultra-competitive District 32-6A and winning will do that for a team.

Having finished third in 32-6A with a 9-5 record and 25 points, the Eagles consider themselves ready for the postseason because they’ve experienced pretty much a playoff atmosphere throughout their district schedule.

“Obviously, it feels good to be where we had planned to be at the start of the season,” said Oscar Cordova, a senior forward and team captain for the Eagles. “We feel we’ve earned it with hard work. Hopefully this is not where our objective ends. We want to go all the way to the last game (at state), and God willing, we get that chance.

“I’m pretty sure we can all agree that games in this district are like playoff games,” Cordova added. “Our district is considered one of the strongest in the Valley and maybe even the state. I think it has prepared all of us, not only soccer-wise, but mentally to handle hard games and know already that there’s going to be good competition out there.”

The Eagles play at District 31-6A second-place Weslaco East at 6 p.m. Thursday in the bi-district round of the Class 6A playoffs. Thursday’s winner advances to next week’s area round to face McAllen High or Del Rio.

“We feel we have as good of a chance as anybody in our district and in the state,” Hanna coach Reyes Prado said. “A fourth-place team from our district (Rivera) has advanced to state in the past (2007). We came in third (in 32-6A) and we have as good of a chance as (fellow 32-6A playoff qualifiers) Lopez, (Brownsville) Veterans and Rivera.

“It’s just a matter of getting into a rhythm and having Lady Luck on our side in the games, and we should be OK,” Prado added. “We like our chances.”

The Eagles will go with a lineup that includes Cordova and Jesus Hernandez at forward, Adir Ochoa and Eddie Arellano at center midfielder, Alexis Hernandez and Adrian Montalvo as midfielders on the wing, Diego Acevedo and Azael Raya as central defenders and Edgar Loyde and Hector Quintero as fullbacks. The goalkeeper is Lalo Cazares.

Helping off the bench are center midfielder Jose Antonio Salazar, defender Javier Padron, forward Jose Pompa and midfield winger Chris Vasquez.

“The expectations for us are high and they come from ourselves,” said Acevedo, also a senior team captain. “There may be doubt about what we can do from the outside, but not among ourselves. The biggest challenge is ourselves. I don’t think we’ve developed yet into the team we should be. The last district game (a 5-0 win at home against Los Fresnos on March 15) showed where we are and what we can do.

“We want to be a dominating team,” Acevedo added. “We’ve struggled at times trying to keep the ball moving and trying to score, but it’s better to start (the season) slow and continue getting better. What we want to do is keep improving.”

Camaraderie has been important for the Eagles, said Jesus Hernandez, also a senior.

“It’s an honor to play on this team because we are a family,” he said. “I think with more practice we can do great. We have the players and we have the team. We’re a family, and you can do so much as a family.”

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, Staff Writer

These Rivera Raiders aren’t the same ones who captured the inaugural Class 6A state title in boys soccer April 18, 2015, in Georgetown.

Instead, with almost a completely new lineup, the 2016 Raiders have steadily improved throughout the season and now find themselves in the playoffs for the 24th time in 25 years.

It’s been quite an evolution that has seen the team come together and win four straight games to finish tied for fourth place with Harlingen South at 23 points.

Friday’s 5-1 victory against South during a “play-in” match at Sams Memorial Stadium clinched another postseason berth for Rivera.

Considering the momentum and confidence gained by the Raiders with each passing win, who knows what they might accomplish during the next few weeks. For example, Rivera finished fourth in district in 2007 and wound up advancing to state.

The Raiders play host to District 31-6A champion PSJA Memorial at 6 p.m. Thursday at Sams in the 6A bi-district playoffs, followed by Lopez taking on Edinburg Economedes at 8 p.m.

Rivera coach Salvador Garcia is impressed with his current squad.

“Even though last year we won it all, I have never felt so proud of a group of players (as these guys),” said Garcia, now in his 19th year of guiding the Raiders after serving six seasons as an assistant. “Last year we had the talent, and this year we were lacking the talent according to many people out there. Those people are probably right. If we go by talent alone, maybe we have no business staying on the same field with some of the other teams in our district.

“But we’ve been telling the guys since the beginning that if we play as a team, we can beat anyone,” Garcia added. “They’re finally realizing that it’s true and the coaches were right. It’s just remarkable what these guys are doing.”

The two starters back from last year’s state championship team are forward/midfielder Eliezer “Chaii” Acero and defender/utility player Hernan Cruz, both senior team captains.

“We have known since the beginning of district that we were going against the momentum of the other teams,” Cruz said. “But this team has stuck together and the coaches have stuck with us, too. We found a way to play Rivera’s style of soccer and qualify for the playoffs again. These wins are boosting our confidence and giving us positive feelings (about what we can do).

“It’s unbelievable. I have to be honest and say at the beginning I wasn’t really sure we could do it, but I see the way we’re playing now as a team, and it’s amazing.”

Except for Acero and Cruz, the Rivera lineup features many new faces.

They include goalkeeper Jorge Cordova, defenders Jose “Memito” Villanueva, Carlos Alvarez and Roberto Melendez, forward Roberto Figueroa and midfielders Manuel Espinoza, Roberto Castro, Alex Mendez and Julian Espinoza. Another starter sidelined with an injury is Jose Espinoza.

Contributing off the bench for the Raiders are midfielder/defenders Jose Muniz, Jorge Morales and Ivan Cruz along with midfielder Isaac Cedillo and defender Sergio Soto.

“It feels very good to get our ticket to the playoffs,” said Villanueva, also a senior. “We started out with no one really believing in us, but we believed in ourselves, and that’s the thing that has always mattered. Our coach has told us, ‘Believe, believe. God has something (good) planned for us.’

“We’ve grown emotionally strong, and that’s what has kept us going,” he added. “And now, the best is yet to come.”

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, Staff Writer

Considering the Rivera Raiders are a soccer team that has qualified for state playoffs 23 times during the past 24 seasons, it’s wise to never count them out.

Despite repeated delays due to lightning, the Raiders overcame Mother Nature and Harlingen South 5-1 Friday at Sams Memorial Stadium to qualify for another trip to the postseason.

They took on South in a “play-in” game to determine the fourth-place playoff qualifier from District 32-6A.

Rivera, the Class 6A defending state champion, was leading 3-0 when the match was halted due to bad weather conditions with 9:39 left in the first half. After a stoppage of 1 hour, 52 minutes, the match resumed.

Rivera’s Eliezer “Chaii” Acero, a senior forward/midfielder, highlighted the victory by scoring three goals, including two during the first half that gave his team a 4-0 edge at intermission.

“I was shocked to score those goals,” Acero said. “I wasn’t really expecting to score three. But thanks to God, He put them at my feet.”

Added teammate Hernan Cruz, a fellow senior and team captain along with Acero, “There’s a feeling of excitement and relief to win this game.”

The Raiders and Hawks finished the 32-6A schedule tied with 23 points after Tuesday’s final night of district competition. Since they each had the same number of total goals (four) in their two head-to-head district games, Friday’s “play-in” match was required.

Acero gave Rivera a 1-0 lead on a 25-yard blast from the right side just eight minutes into the match. The ball came in high and rocketed past the goalkeeper, just making it under the crossbar.

It became 2-0 during the 16th minute when Rivera’s Jorge Morales dribbled the ball in close from the right side and centered it to teammate Manuel Espinoza, who promptly sent a strong shot into the net from close range.

Rivera’s third goal came during the 30th minute when Rivera’s Roberto Castro attacked from the left side after receiving a pass from Espinoza. The goalkeeper came out but was unable to cut off the attack. Castro broke free from the defenders around him for a moment and sent the ball into an open goal on the bounce to make it 3-0.

Barely one minute later the match was halted as lightning flashed across the sky. Rain also fell. Players and coaches were sent to their locker rooms and the spectators were instructed to take refuge under the stands.

Then action finally resumed, Acero sent another rocket of a shot into the goal, this time from 30 yards, with 7 1/2 minutes left until halftime to make it 4-0.

Acero added his third goal just six minutes into the second half and Rivera was on its way to victory with a 5-0 lead.

South’s Jose Lerma tallied off a corner kick taken from the left side to account for the Hawks’ lone goal. The score came with 15 minutes to play.

“I think this game was a big learning experience for us,” South coach Julian Robles said. “We’ve kind of got the part about playing in this district already down, but this part (of playing for a spot in the playoffs) is the part we need to learn from.

“Our players told me they were nervous, and I understood that,” Robles added. “I think our guys played there hearts out in the second half, and I’m proud of them. They showed character and pride, and that’s what we’re trying build in our program.”

The winner of Friday’s game is scheduled to play District 31-6A champion PSJA Memorial in the bi-district round of the 6A playoffs next week.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The Lopez soccer teams repeated recent history Tuesday by capturing district championships.

The Lopez boys defeated Brownsville Veterans Memorial 2-1 and the Lady Lobos edged the Lady Chargers 1-0 in overtime. The two road wins enabled the Lopez boys (12-2, 37 points) and girls (11-3, 32 points) to earn District 32-6A titles.

It was similar to 2014, when the Lopez squads were District 32-5A champions and both qualified for the regional tournament, where the Lobos advanced to state.

They’ll try to duplicate or surpass those feats when the Class 6A playoffs start March 24.

“Getting into the playoffs was our main goal, and winning district is like a little bonus,” said Jose Echevarria, a sophomore midfielder for Lopez. “We’re working hard, giving everything we’ve got and not giving up until the last whistle.”

The Lady Lobos’ Samantha Ruiz, a senior midfielder, scored the eventual game-winner Tuesday on a penalty kick two minutes into OT against the Lady Chargers. She was a part of the Lady Lobos’ district title squad two seasons ago and believes there is a greater potential for both teams to do well in the playoffs because the players are more experienced now than they were in 2014.

“It feels good for both our boys and girls to be district champions,” Ruiz said. “We’re making history again, so I’m proud of that.”

The Lopez boys and girls have to wait until after Friday’s final round of games in District 31-6A for their bi-district opponents to be determined.

“At the beginning of the season we put everything in God’s hands, and here we are,” said coach Amadeo Escandon, now in his 19th year of guiding the Lopez boys. “Winning district is a feeling that never gets old.”

PLAY-IN GAME
The results of Tuesday’s final night of 32-6A competition left Rivera (8-6, 23 points) and Harlingen South (7-7, 23 points) tied for the district’s fourth-place playoff berth.

Since the two teams split their matches during district and finished with the same total number of goals (four) in those games, an extra contest between the Hawks and Raiders is scheduled at 7 p.m. Friday at Sams Memorial Stadium. The winner advances to the playoffs and the season is over for the loser.

South defeated Rivera 3-2 Feb. 5 in Harlingen. The Raiders won 2-1 against the Hawks March 4 at Sams.

“We are going to need to play better than the previous two times against them to get a good result,” Rivera coach Salvador Garcia said. “Coach (Julian) Robles (of South) and I were talking a while back about how close both games were before. We’re hoping both teams can play to their potential so we can give the fans a good game.

“We have a lot of respect for (second-year) Coach Robles and for what he and his coaching staff have done in such a short period of time (in getting the Hawks into playoff contention),” Garcia added.

Robles, a former Porter assistant, echoed Garcia’s sentiments.

“It should be very competitive,” Robles said. “We match up very well against them, and I believe both teams will give a great game for the fans.

“Rivera is a well-coached team with a lot of talent,” he added. “We plan to counter and anticipate anything that might come up during the match. Rivera did its part to get to this elimination game, and we deserve to be here, too.”

Friday’s winner will go against 31-6A champion PSJA Memorial in the bi-district playoffs.

NATIONALLY RANKED
The 32-5A-champion Porter Cowboys, ranked No. 1 in the Rio Grande Valley by RGVSports.com, are receiving national recognition.

The Cowboys, 21-0-1 on the season, are ranked No. 5 in the nation this week by Topdrawersoccer.com.

Lopez, Hanna and Rivera have been ranked nationally by the same organization in recent years.

One year ago, Rivera finished No. 2 in the country after capturing the inaugural Class 6A state title in boys soccer with a 28-0 record.

The Cowboys wrapped up a 14-0 district title showing on Monday with an 8-1 victory at home against Mercedes.

FIRST FOR TARPONS
The Port Isabel boys have won a district title in soccer for the first time. They are District 32-4A co-champions with Progreso, each with 21 points.

The Tarpons will have the top seed from their district for the playoffs and will go against Monte Alto next week in bi-district.

The Lady Tarpons finished second in 32-4A and will be facing Raymondville in bi-district at noon March 24 in Raymondville.

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, Staff Writer

The Lopez Lobos know the feeling well.

Tuesday’s 2-1 victory at Brownsville Veterans Memorial enabled the Lobos to finish first in district again in soccer.

This time the Lobos are District 32-6A champions. They’ve added another trophy to the recent ones they won in District 32-5A in 2009, 2011 and 2014.

“It’s an honor to win another district title,” said German Vera, Lopez’s senior defensive midfielder. “We feel that winning this game will motivate us to do well in the playoffs.

“We give all the glory to God,” Vera added. “We’re a team made up of faith and we’re coming strong.”

Brownsville Veterans and Lopez came into the match tied for the district lead at 11-2 with 34 points. It was the final day of competition on the 32-6A schedule.

Depending on the results of other 32-6A matches, there may be a play-in game to get to the postseason later this week.

Still, after Tuesday’s game at Brownsville Veterans, the Lobos (12-2, 37 points) know they’ll go into next week’s playoffs as the No. 1 seed from 32-6A and the Chargers (11-3, 34 points) will be the district’s No. 2 seed. Their bi-district opponents from District 31-6A have yet to be determined.

The match was an evenly contested battle the entire way.

Lopez went up 1-0 with a little more than six minutes left in the half on a goal by Ulysses Ortegon that was kicked in off the deflection of a teammate’s shot. The Chargers answered one minute later when a long pass from midfield made by Estuardo Teran bounced in to send the match into intermission deadlocked at 1.

The Lobos tallied their second goal thanks to Benito Cazares’ short-range shot from the left side a little more than three minutes into the second half. It stood up as the eventual game-winner.

“Our players played good enough to win the game, but we just didn’t pull it out,” said Chargers coach Alberto Vasquez, whose team beat Lopez 2-0 last month at Sams Memorial Stadium during the first round of district. “We wanted this. My guys played their hearts out and I’m real proud of them. I can’t be disappointed with them because I believe they left everything on the field.”

When the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard clock and the Lobos were district champions again, a celebration ensued on the Lopez sideline with coach Amadeo Escandon getting drenched with water along with assistant Abraham Torres.

“This feeling (of winning district) never gets old,” Escandon said. “We owe it to God because at the beginning of the season He put it in our minds to do this. Thanks to Him, we’re here, and it never gets old.

“Also, we have terrific players,” he added. “They play with heart and they have a passion for soccer.”

Jose Echevarria, Lopez’s sophomore midfielder, said his team had been looking forward to Tuesday’s rematch since losing to the Chargers 2-0 during the district’s first round.

“It could have gone either way tonight because Brownsville Veterans is a very tough team,” Echevarria said. “I think they’re going to go far in the playoffs just like us. We’ll probably meet them again.”

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

In an unpredictable night of soccer, the Lopez Lady Lobos emerged as District 32-6A champions.

Lopez beat the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Lady Chargers 1-0 in overtime Tuesday at Brownsville Veterans Memorial.

Coupled with Hanna’s 3-2 victory Tuesday at home against Los Fresnos, the Lady Lobos captured the 32-6A title with an 11-3 record and 32 points.

Los Fresnos went into the final night of 32-6A action in first place and finished tied for second place with Harlingen South, a 1-0 winner over Harlingen High. South and Los Fresnos each finish 10-4 with 30 points.

The Lady Falcons have the tiebreaker edge over the Lady Hawks and will be the district’s No. 2 seed in next week’s bi-district playoffs, while South will be No. 3.

Brownsville Veterans (9-5, 27 points) advances to the postseason as 32-6A’s No. 4 team.

The game between the Lady Lobos and Lady Chargers was decided two minutes into the first half of OT when a Lopez corner kick was taken from the right side and the incoming ball appeared to hit the hand of a Lady Chargers player situated near the right post.

Without hesitation the referee awarded a penalty kick to the Lady Lobos, and Samantha Ruiz, a senior center midfielder, converted it with a strong shot into the net.

“It’s just amazing (that we’re district champions),” Ruiz said. “We never lost hope. I’m just proud of my team that the girls never gave up. They try 110 percent every game, and that’s all I can ask for.”

When the match at Brownsville Veterans finally ended after 100 minutes of regulation play and OT, there with disbelief at first that the Lady Lobos were actually 32-6A champions until the Hanna-Los Fresnos score was confirmed.

“I’m just so proud of our girls because we’re in a district that is really a roller coaster ride,” Lady Lobos coach Alex Macias said. “I might have said five games ago that we were confident about winning district. Of course, I was wrong because you never know what might happen with the teams in this district. They’re all very strong.

“In addition to the girls, I would like to congratulate my assistant coaches Ramon Zuniga, Adrian Navarro and Gilberto Escobedo. With such a roller coaster of a district, a lot of stress plays into it, and my assistants have done a lot to pick up the slack and help me. I would like to make sure they are recognized, too.”

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

One journey is complete and another is beginning for the Porter Cowboys in soccer.

The Cowboys, ranked No. 1 in the Rio Grande Valley by RGVSports.com, finished their regular season as District 32-5A champions with a 14-0 record and 42 points thanks an 8-1 triumph over Mercedes on Monday at home.

Next up for the Cowboys is the postseason.

“We feel very happy because God granted us the victory today,” said Alexis Armendariz, a junior forward who recorded a pair of first-half goals to highlight the win. “I’m very proud of my team. Now we want to keep going forward (in the playoffs).We feel very good, but we want more (than the district trophy).”

The Cowboys are expected to face Edinburg Vela or Sharyland Pioneer on March 24 in the Class 5A bi-district playoffs.

Porter led comfortably 5-1 at halftime Monday.

Armendariz’s header a little more than four minutes into the match made it 1-0 and started Porter’s first-half scoring spree.

Before the half ended, Porter added goals by Alexis Anzures (13th minute), Ricky Vidal (20th minute), Omar Estrada (32nd minute) and another tally by Armendariz (also in the 32nd minute).

During the 34th minute, a Mercedes’ shot somehow slipped out of the Porter goalkeeper’s hands and rolled into an open net to give the Tigers (3-11, nine points) their lone goal and made it 5-1 at intermission.

Mercedes had only 12 players dressed out for the game.

Porter’s Uriel Sepulveda scored within the first minute of the second half to boost the lead to 6-1.

Completing the second-half scoring for Porter were Daniel Briseno on a 20-yard free kick from the right side during the 74th minute and Sepulveda on a close-range header during the 77th minute.

The Cowboys beat the Tigers 6-0 during the first half of district on Feb. 16 in Mercedes.

Porter coach Jose Espitia said his team kept its focus to finish its 32-5A schedule undefeated and now will set its sights on the playoffs.

“Our guys have been practically perfect throughout the season, including district competition,” Espitia said. “Getting this (district championship) was just another one of their goals. We’re happy to be able to accomplish it, but again, starting tomorrow, we’ll be focusing on our bi-district match and getting ready for the next season, which is the playoffs. Hopefully we can continue playing the same way in the postseason.”

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

The Porter Cowgirls did their part to finish at least second place in the District 32-5A girls soccer race.

A 3-1 win against Mercedes on Monday at home allowed the Porter girls to finish the 32-5A competition with a 10-4 record and 33 points.

The result gives them at least 32-5A’s second-place playoff, and depending on the outcome of Monday’s Pace-PSJA Southwest match in Pharr, a share of the district title.

“We were just going to try to do our part (by winning this match),” said Cowgirls coach Abraham Gracia, who has guided his team to the postseason for the first time in the history of Porter’s girls soccer program. “That’s just what I told the girls. I said, ‘Let’s do our part and leave the rest to God. That’s all we can do. If He wants us first, we’ll be first. If He wants us second, we’ll be second.’

“I still think our girls have a lot more in them (for the playoffs. Yes, it gave us a boost (to lead 1-0 at halftime tonight), but I think there’s more in them. It still feels pretty good to win this one.”

Priscila Cortinas’ goal 12 minutes into the match gave the Cowgirls a 1-0 advantage that stood until teammate Hilda Valdivieso’s second-half tally increased the lead to 2-0.

With 16 minutes left, the Lady Tigers (4-10, 13 points) made things interesting by scoring to close the gap to 2-1.

But Porter’s Lizbeth Garcia gave her team some cushion and a 3-1 lead by scoring on a header off a corner kick from the right side by Alexis Vega with just 2 1/2 minutes left.

“It felt great and it was amazing (to score like that),” Garcia said. “It was all because of my teammates. We all did this and got the win, so it just feels amazing.”

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

The showdown for the District 32-6A championship in boys soccer is officially set.

Tuesday’s potential 5:30 p.m. winner-take-all matchup between the Lopez Lobos and Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers became a reality when Lopez defeated Harlingen High 5-0 Saturday at Brownsville Sports Park.

Brownsville Veterans did its part by rallying to prevail against Los Fresnos 2-1 Friday at Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium.

The Chargers and Lobos are each 11-2 with 34 points in the district with their Tuesday showdown being both clubs’ final 32-6A match of the season.

Lobos coach Amadeo Escandon was pleased with his team’s performance Saturday against the Cardinals (0-13, no points).

“We had a good game,” he said. “We worked on communication and (defensively) covering up open spaces on the field.

“Brownsville Veterans is obviously a very good team because they beat us (2-0 on Feb. 16) in the first round of district,” he added. “We think we can play with them. Everybody is excited and looking forward to the game, including the coaches, the players and the community. It should be a game geared toward (entertaining) the spectators.”

Against Harlingen High, the Lobos built a 3-0 first-half lead on an own-goal and a pair of tallies by Jose Echevarria. Lopez sealed the victory with second-half goals by Benito Cazares and German Vera.

Meanwhile, the Lady Lobos kept alive their chances for the district title by rallying to defeat the Lady Cardinals 2-1 in overtime during the second match of the boys-girls doubleheader.

The first half went scoreless, and the game remained that way until the Lady Cardinals went ahead 1-0. Later, Samantha Ruiz’s late second-half goal evened the score for Lopez. From there, neither team could find the net until Carla Gracia provided the game-winner for Lopez during the second half of OT.

The Lady Lobos (10-3, 29 points) now are just one point behind district leader Los Fresnos (10-3, 30 points) going into Tuesday’s final day of 32-6A competition. Just like its boys squad, Lopez plays at Brownsville Veterans (9-4, 27 points) on Tuesday. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Los Fresnos plays at Hanna (7-6, 21 points) at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

LOS FRESNOS — The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Lady Chargers recorded one of their most remarkable comeback victories in soccer Friday as they staged a late rally to prevail over the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons 2-1.

The game-winning goal in the District 32-6A match at Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium was scored from approximately 20 yards away by the Lady Chargers’ Sam Bodden with 3 1/2 minutes left.

After trailing most of the second half 1-0, the Lady Chargers surprised the Lady Falcons by deadlocking the match at 1 with only 12 1/2 minutes remaining.

Then Bodden’s high shot made it past the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper and came in just under the crossbar to give her team an improbable 2-1 victory with nine minutes left.

“It felt really amazing to score that goal,” said Bodden, a sophomore forward/midfielder. “It was really great to have my team behind me (providing support).This win boosts our confidence as we get ready to play Lopez next (Tuesday at home in our regular-season finale) and then go to the playoffs.

“We played so hard. We knew we had to step it up in the second half (after trailing 1-0 at intermission). We just looked at it as if the game was 0-0, and we didn’t get down. We knew we had to come back and get the win.”

The first half appeared that it was going to end in a scoreless tie until the Lady Falcons’ Itzel Bochas scored from the left side just inside the box with 45 seconds left before intermission.

At that point, Los Fresnos appeared to have the momentum and everything it needed to secure the win. The district-leading Lady Falcons (10-3, 30 points) could have clinched the outright 32-6A title with a win. Also, they were motivated by the 2-0 loss they suffered at Brownsville Veterans last month during the first round of district.

But the Lady Chargers (9-4, 27 points), now tied for second place with Harlingen South (9-4, 27 points), refused to give up.

“We were able to come back and win against a real good team, and that’s a pretty big victory for us,” Lady Chargers coach Luis Troncoso said. “We proved tonight that we can do some good things.

“I’m proud of our girls,” he said. “They stepped up after being down 1-0. We showed some character with this win.”

Brownsville Veterans and Los Fresnos have qualified for the playoffs.

Los Fresnos will be at Hanna next Tuesday as Brownsville Veterans plays host to Lopez.