Carla Gracia was just waiting for a chance to score during Friday’s District 32-6A girls soccer game between the Hanna Lady Golden Eagles and Lopez Lady Lobos at Hanna.

When an opportune moment presented itself five minutes into the second half, Garcia made the most of her chance.

Gracia’s goal from approximately 11 yards that somehow made it through the Hanna goalkeeper’s hands was enough to lift the Lopez girls to a 1-0 victory in a matchup of 32-6A unbeatens.

“It was the winning goal, and we were searching for it throughout the whole game,” said Gracia, a junior forward for the Lady Lobos. “That’s all we practiced for all week was to score and win this game. I’m not going to lie, it was a hard game, but we were the better team on the field.

“I put all my heart into that shot,” Gracia added. “I know where to send it against the goalkeeper, and it went right through the middle. Once I felt it (go off my foot), I knew it would go in. I never doubted myself. That’s something Coach (Alex) Macias taught me is to never doubt myself and I don’t.”

It was a back-and-forth match the entire way with the Lady Lobos emerging victorious to remain unbeaten in 32-6A at 4-0 with 11 points. Hanna is now in a second-place tie with Los Fresnos. Each 3-1 is with nine points.

“Hanna has some speed up front and we have a little more experience up front, so I think that was the difference because both teams matched up pretty well,” Macias said. “Our experience on top gave us the edge, I think.”

The Lady Lobos have now prevailed against three teams considered district title contenders — Los Fresnos, Harlingen South and Hanna. Still, Macias doesn’t feel any type of comfort level atop the 32-6A standings so early in the district race.

“No, it doesn’t really give me much relief (despite those wins),” the Lopez coach said. “Our team is still in progress, and I’m sure the other teams are, too (so anything can happen). Right now we’re all just trying to get wins and get into the playoffs at the end (of district). We’ve still got to play these teams again (during the second round of 32-6A).”

Four minutes after Gracia’s goal, the Lady Eagles put the ball in the net but the goal was waived off, apparently due to an offsides call.

“It was a tough game just like we expected it,” Lady Eagles coach Jose Morales said. “Lopez had a clear game plan and they executed it very well, so credit goes to their girls and coaches.

“It was a physical game, and they beat us on some little battles that we should have done more to win when it was a 50-50 ball,” Morales added. “Lopez knew what to do with the ball, so the bottom line is they did what they needed to do to win.”

District action continues at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday as Hanna is at Harlingen South and Lopez plays host to San Benito at Sams Memorial Stadium.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

Thanks to Friday’s athletic scholarship signing, Anthony Garza’s college future is set.

Beginning next school year, the standout senior at Rivera will be running track and cross country on a full scholarship for the Bethel University Wildcats of McKenzie, Tenn. Bethel competes at the NAIA Division I level.

“I love running and it’s something I can see myself doing in the future, so this feels very good,” said Garza of Friday’s signing at the Rivera campus in the presence of classmates, teammates, school staff members and family. “I’ll be over there to prepare myself to get a job (by getting a college education).

“I’m excited,” he added. “It’s a new experience and a new challenge for me as I enter the next chapter of my life. Since my friend (and former Rivera teammate) Cristian Machuca is already over there (running for the Wildcats), I can kind of compare myself to how he’s doing to see how I can expect to do on the team. I know he’ll show me the ropes.

“It’ll be fun over there. I want to do well, and I can see myself doing well there as well.”

Besides Machuca, a 2015 Rivera graduate, there are two other Brownsville runners competing for Bethel. They are Jesus Garza and Carlos Gonzalez. Both are Pace graduates.

Anthony Garza was a key member of Rivera cross country squads that won the past two District 32-6A titles and advanced to the UIL state meet in 2014. In track, Anthony Garza competes in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. He advanced to the Region IV-6A meet last season as a junior.

“Anthony was really a leader of our group,” said Raiders cross country coach Arturo Hurtado, who has taught and coached 36 years in Brownsville ISD. “Anthony’s a tough cookie, a tough runner. He’s following Cristian, who signed a scholarship to run over there last year.

“I’m very happy to see something like this (signing) happen because education comes first,” the veteran coach added. “This is a chance for Anthony to move to the next level. I would like for him to do well. Actually, I don’t really worry about it because I have a pretty good feeling that he’ll be successful.”

The standout runner for the Raiders said he plans to study nursing at Bethel.

“I love my team here at Rivera,” Garza said. “I enjoy spending time with my teammates whether we’re running or outside of running. We hang out at each other’s homes and it’s good fellowship. I hope some (more) of the guys can make it over to where I’m going in Tennessee.

“I just want to say that I thank God for everything He’s done for me and for the talent He’s given me,” Garza added.

“Thank you to everyone who is supporting me, too.”

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

A soccer team doesn’t put together a solid, unyielding defense simply overnight.

It takes defenders with a good amount of experience who know just how to cut off the angles and how to communicate with each other effectively so they can turn back the many offensive attacks made by opponents throughout the course of a game.

The Porter Cowboys, ranked No. 1 in the Rio Grande Valley by RGVSports.com and undefeated in District 32-5A at 3-0 with nine points, have such a defense.

Robert Briseno and Anthony Cuellar, both juniors, are two of the experienced players who have been important contributors to the Cowboys’ defense since they were freshmen. They have received all-district honors, including last season when Briseno was co-defensive MVP in 32-5A. At the moment, Briseno is sidelined with an injury that is expected to keep him out of the lineup until possibly the second round of district.

Still, the pair of three-year starters, mainly central defenders who at times move up to the midfield, are making an impact and helping the team win.

“Both of them are all-around athletes who ran cross country as freshmen along with playing soccer,” Porter coach Jose Espitia said. “With those two guys coming back this year, we knew we were going to be solid on defense. They’re surrounded by about five other defenders who have been contributing as well. They’re very committed to the program, and they work hard every day. They are both leaders on the field, so that’s always a blessing.”

With Briseno out, other Porter players stepping in for him on defense include Esteban Mata, Fernando Trigo and Haramber Garcia.

“It’s very difficult (not playing) because you’re not able to do what you love doing, and I’ve been working so hard since the first day (of practice),” Briseno said. “But I’m not in a rush to come back because the season just started and it’s just the beginning (of district). Also, I believe in all my teammates.

“The defense, in my opinion, is doing well because we’ve all been working together as a team,” he added. “We motivate each other, we all put the same amount of effort into every play, we give each other a hand even when we mess up, and most importantly we believed in each other when at the beginning no one believed in us.

“Yes, I’m very pleased because the team always comes first, and as long as the team does well with me or without me I’ll be happy.”

The Cowboys have allowed only three goals in 11 matches, including none while outscoring opponents a combined 9-0 during three 32-5A games.

“I feel great being a part of this team and being a starter,” said Cuellar, who was the kicker for the Cowboys’ playoff football team just a few months ago. “We’ve been working hard and everything, and I think that’s why we’re doing so well.

“I feel great mainly because no one has scored on us (in district),” he added. “We just have to keep going to practice and working hard every day. We all just work as a family. If one player goes out we replace him, switch positions (if we have to), and we’re all just moving (defensively) where ever the ball goes.”

The Cowboys are preparing for Friday’s crucial 32-5A showdown against crosstown rival Pace, which is also 3-0 with nine points. The game is at 8 p.m. at Porter and will be preceded by the 32-5A match at 6 p.m. between the Lady Vikings and Cowgirls.

“Whoever wins might be (considered) the best team in the district, so we just have to play (even) harder than what we’ve been playing and hopefully not get scored on,” Cuellar said. “We just want to continue playing the way we’re playing and try to get better.”

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

For those who did well enough at their district swimming & diving meets to quality for regional competition, now comes an even bigger challenge.

The Region VIII-6A Meet takes place Friday and Saturday at Brownsville’s Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center, with only the top finisher in each boys and girls swimming event qualifying for the UIL state meet Feb. 19 and 20 in Austin. Also, the top two divers at regional competition go to state.

In short, it’s a whole lot easier to qualify for a regional meet than it is for state, and that, thanks to the UIL, is by design.

Friday’s regional meet at Clark Aquatic Center brings together top Class 6A swimmers and divers from the Rio Grande Valley and Laredo.

Also this weekend, the Region VIII-5A Meet is taking place at Corpus Christi ISD Natatorium. The event also involves top Valley swimmers and divers, including some from Brownsville.

On the Class 6A level from the Brownsville area, four athletes will be trying to make return trips to state at the Region VIII-6A Meet.

Three of them are swimmers. They are Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s Jonathan Ashford, Los Fresnos’ Ivana Besteiro and Hanna’s Maya Athena Imperial.

Lopez diver Thadey Diaz also is seeking a return to state.

The three swimmers all went to state in two events last year, and each has a chance to do so again, although some of them are competing in different events this time around.

At the District 32-6A meet last Saturday in Harlingen, Diaz won the girls 1-meter diving, and Ashford (50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke), Besteiro (200 individual medley and 50 freestyle) and Imperial (200 and 500 freestyles) were each double-winners.

“Jonathan has the ability to pull some amazing performances out of his hat (at crucial times),” Brownsville Veterans coach Frank Sanchez said of Ashford’s chances for a return to state as a senior.

Concerning Imperial’s chances at the regional meet, Hanna coach Sam Perez said, “The good thing about swimming is it’s data driven, and you can see the times (that other competitors have). We sneaked a peak, and things look hopeful for Maya and Natalia Davila. It’s that time (of year) to bring (out the best) of what they’ve been working on.”

Double-winners as well at the 32-6A meet, other local swimmers who hope their success carries over into regional competition, include Los Fresnos’ Carlos Paredes (200 and 500 freestyles) and Rivera teammates Adrian Flores (200 individual medley and 100 butterfly) and Stephanie Castillo (100 freestyle and 100 backstroke).

Los Fresnos won all the girls and boys relays at district and may have a chance for a state qualifier or two in those events.

Pace and Porter had swimmers who placed in the top six at their District 32-5A meet last month at Clark Aquatic Center to qualify for the Region VIII-5A Meet in Corpus Christi.

Among those who qualified for a regional trip are Pace’s Jose Hernandez and Victor Reyes.

“We’ve continued to practice hard (after the district meet) and we’re hoping for the best at regionals,” Pace coach Selina Gilman said.

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

Friday promises to be quite an eventful day of district soccer showdowns for Brownsville boys and girls teams, particularly those from Hanna, Lopez, Porter and Pace.

Undefeated District 32-6A leaders square off at Hanna on Friday as the Lopez girls and boys come visiting for matches against the Eagles’ squads at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

For the boys, Lopez (3-0, nine points) and Hanna (3-0, eight points) have emerged as the early front-runners in the 32-6A race. Friday’s winner will be the only remaining unbeaten squad in the standings.

“It should be one of those exciting soccer matches which any soccer aficionado longs to watch,” Lopez coach Amadeo Escandon said. “They are undefeated and so are we, and that adds to the level of interest.

“They have most of their key players back from last year and are well-coached, so again, it will be a great game for the fans, but nerve wracking for the coaches,” Escandon added.

Hanna coach Reyes Prado sees the matchup much the same way.

“Our match vs. Lopez should be very intense and should be decided and won by the team that makes less mistakes,” Prado said. “Aside from it being a hard-fought match, it’s (actually) only one more intense district match (of the many on our schedule). I hope we can keep playing our style, and may the best team win.”

Hanna’s boys are coming off Tuesday’s 1-0 victory in penalty kicks against Brownsville Veterans Memorial. It was scoreless through the end of overtime and the Golden Eagles prevailed 5-4 on PKs. Lopez defeated Rivera 2-0 Tuesday.

The circumstances of undefeated 32-6A leaders colliding is exactly the same for the 5:30 p.m. girls match between Hanna (3-0, nine points) and Lopez (3-0, eight points). Only one unbeaten in the 32-6A standings will remain after Friday.

“Both teams have the desire to win as they are both of a competitive nature,” Lady Eagles coach Jose Morales said. “Regardless of how each team has prepared, I think it will come down to who is focused and on target that night to take advantage of the other.

“It will be high scoring without a doubt,” he added. “We will bring an offensive game, and our girls will look for counterattacks. We have a variety of girls scoring, and that is our advantage.”

The Lady Eagles got past Brownsville Veterans 3-2 on Tuesday, and the Lady Lobos shut out Rivera 3-0.

PACE VS. PORTER: A District 32-5A girls-boys doubleheader Friday at Porter promises to be equally eventful as the one at Hanna with unbeaten conference records on the line as well. The girls from Pace and Porter play at 6 p.m., followed by the boys match at 8 p.m.

Through three games in 32-5A boys action, only Pace and Porter are undefeated. Each is 3-0 with nine points.

The Cowboys stayed perfect in 32-5A with Tuesday’s 1-0 victory at PSJA Southwest. The Vikings won at home 4-0 against PSJA High the same night.

“Right now I see the game as being between the two undefeated teams from our district, and that we are going to play against a team ranked (No. 1) in the Valley,” Pace coach Mario A. Zamora said. “But as soon as the whistle blows to start the match on Friday, it’s going to be an 11 vs. 11 (city rivalry), and I expect a great match from both teams.”

Cowboys coach Jose Espitia said the city rivalry aspect of Friday’s match just adds more intensity to it.

“It’s going to be interesting,” Espitia said. “When it comes to high school soccer, there’s nothing more intense than a district game vs. a Brownsville school.

“Pace is currently tied with us for first, and we expect them to come and give us another game like the one we had in the regional quarterfinals last year (that we won 2-1 in penalty kicks),” he added. “We know that they come with a complete team and have been anxiously waiting for this day. At the same time, we feel very excited because these are the games that better prepare us for the playoffs.

“In these games, the fans end up being the winners because these rivalries are always enjoyable to watch.”

The Lady Vikings (3-0, nine points) will try to retain a perfect 32-5A record by prevailing against the Cowgirls (1-2, four points), who are coming off Tuesday’s impressive 1-0 road win at PSJA Southwest. The same night the Pace girls won 4-1 at home against PSJA High.

Besides Pace, the only other undefeated girls team in 32-5A at this point is defending district champion Donna North (3-0, eight points).

OTHER MATCHUPS: Along with Friday’s district doubleheader showdowns scheduled at Hanna and Porter, there are some additional games of interest in the Metro area.

Among them is a 32-6A boys match at 7:30 p.m. Friday that has Harlingen South (1-2, four points) playing Rivera (2-1, five points) at Sams Memorial Stadium. It could wind up being a playoff-eliminator type of match.

Also, the Brownsville Veterans girls and boys are at San Benito. The Chargers and Lady Chargers have been hanging in there in their 32-6A matches. The boys (1-2, four points) have played three straight district games that went to penalties, winning one of them and losing two.

The Lady Chargers (1-2, three points) are missing top defender Tory Morales, who is out with an ankle injury.

“Some girls have stepped up (in her absence),” Lady Chargers coach Luis Troncoso said. “She still has about another full week before we can get her back, or maybe even sooner.”

CRUCIAL ROAD MATCH: The St. Joseph Academy Bloodhounds play a key TAPPS match at 2 p.m. Saturday at San Antonio Central Catholic. The Buttons are SJA’s top district rival in TAPPS this season.

The Bloodhounds are coming off Tuesday’s 2-0 win at home against Marine Military Academy.

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

LOS FRESNOS — Harlingen South has been looking for a little more explosiveness on the offensive end of the soccer field.
Nick Lerma was more than happy to provide it during Tuesday’s District 32-6A match against Los Fresnos at Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium.

Lerma’s hat trick and a timely stop of a penalty kick by South goalkeeper Nathan Flores highlighted a 4-2 victory on the road by the Hawks against the Falcons.

The win gives the Hawks a 1-2 record in 32-6A with four points. The Falcons are 1-2 with three points.

“We were due to score some goals,” Hawks coach Julian Robles said after the match. “We had been missing a lot of our chances, and we’ve been working on it quite a bit (in practice). Our players put in the work (and the goals came tonight).

“It was a sloppy win, but we’ll take it,” Robles added. “In this district, you take any points you can get.”

With 10 minutes left in the first half, Lerma dribbled the ball across the middle from the left side and fired a rocket into the net from about 12 yards away to make it 1-0 for South.

Barely two minutes later, Lerma converted a penalty kick for the Hawks to boost the lead to 2-0.

Los Fresnos then came alive to cut the lead to 2-1 on a textbook crossing shot into the right corner by Juan Lozoya with just less than five minutes to go before intermission.

Three minutes into the second half, the Hawks went up by two goals again when Bobby Rodriguez tallied from close range to make it 3-1.

The Falcons threatened to pull within one goal for the second time in the match when they were awarded another penalty kick with 32 minutes remaining. However, this time Flores blocked the PK attempt of Lozoya as South retained some breathing room.

Lerma sent a medium-range shot into the goal from the right side with 26 minutes left, completing his hat track and providing a 4-1 advantage for his team.

Los Fresnos was not about to give up, even down by three goals, and the Falcons found the net on a header by Jaime Casanova with 23 minutes to go to account for the final score of 4-2.

“South is one of the top teams in our district, and they’re fighting for a playoff spot,” Los Fresnos coach Javier Navarrete said. “This game was a good measuring stick for us, although I thought our guys came with a little less intensity (than we should have).
“We had a lot of opportunities that we didn’t make and then we missed a penalty kick, so we just needed to finish (our scoring chances),” Navarrete added. “We would have been in the game.”

District 32-6A play continues at 7:30 p.m. Friday as Los Fresnos visits Harlingen High and South goes against Rivera at Sams Memorial Stadium.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

LOS FRESNOS — Yes, it’s a well-used clichè, but the District 32-6A girls race is so balanced that every game is important, especially when the match is between teams that consider themselves title contenders.

The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons and Harlingen South Lady Hawks battled under those circumstances Tuesday at Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium. The Lady Falcons fell behind 1-0 but emerged with what they regarded as a vital, all-important 2-1 victory, even though it’s still very early in the 32-6A race.

“After losing our district opener (3-0) to Lopez we knew we had to come into this one very aggressively and take the win,” said Lady Falcons coach Patricia K. Hernandez, whose squad improved to 2-1 with six points to stay right behind district leaders Lopez and Hanna (both 3-0). “We started off a little sluggish tonight, but the second half we came out and we were on fire.

“Right now this game is done, so we move on and prepare for the next one,” Hernandez added. “It’s one game at a time for us.”

The Lady Hawks (1-2, four points) needed the win every bit as much as Los Fresnos and were looking pretty good after taking a 1-0 lead six minutes into the second half. South’s goal came on an uncontested shot from 20-plus yards by Klarissa Gonzalez.

However, it was not an advantage that lasted very long as the Lady Falcons evened the score 12 minutes later.

South’s goalkeeper came charging out to secure the ball during the 58th minute but did not get there in time as Los Fresnos’ Gabby Moya sent a slow roller out of a group of players who collided together into an open net for the equalizer.

The match’s outcome was determined barely one minute or so later when Los Fresnos was awarded a penalty kick following a handball call. Clarissa “Claire” Castaneda converted it to give the Lady Falcons a 2-1 edge that stood until the end of the match.

“All the teams in our district are tough,” Lady Hawks coach Omar Pedroza said. “We needed a win, they needed a win. They had lost to Lopez 3-0, but we knew they were a better team than that.

“I told our girls (afterward) that it’s going to be like that against every team in our district,” he added. “You just can’t make mistakes. You have to take advantage of whatever chances you have (if you want to win).”

District action continues at 5:30 p.m. Friday. Los Fresnos is at Harlingen High, and Harlingen South takes on Rivera at Sams Memorial Stadium.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

PROGRESO — Progreso goalkeeper Fernando Ramirez made the play of the game Saturday to lift the Red Ants to the championship of the 3rd annual Progreso Soccer Tournament at Red Ant Stadium.

The title match of the two-day, eight-team event was played between the host team and St. Joseph Academy. Progreso was the tournament’s defending champion.

With his team ahead 5-4 in penalty kicks following 80 minutes of scoreless action through regulation, Ramirez blocked the attempt of SJA’s Gerardo Moses, clinching the victory. It was the only try that was stopped by either team’s goalkeeper during the 10-man alternating rotation of PKs.

Officially, the result goes down as a 1-0 triumph for the Red Ants, who are the defending champions of District 32-4A. No overtime periods were played in the tournament final.

“I have no words to describe this win, but I want to thank Fernando, my goalie,” said Juan Puentes, a captain for the Red Ants who scored his squad’s first penalty kick. “I just want to congratulate my teammates. They did an awesome job.”

Progreso coach Margarito Jimenez expected the final to be a difficult match against the Bloodhounds, who have most of their players back from the team that went 16-4-2 last season and reached the TAPPS state semifinals.

“We knew St. Joe was going to be a tough opponent, and we knew we had to give them everything we had,” Jimenez said. “Thank God we came out on top.”

Regarding Ramirez, the Progreso coach said, “Fernando is a senior. He works hard and he’s there every day (at practice) doing his job, and today he’s the hero.”

Converting PK attempts for the Red Ants were Puentes, Rogelio Zamora, Cristian Chavez, Chris Rojas and Fernando Blanco. Making their PKs for the Bloodhounds were Jose Kauachi, Luis Amaro, Gerardo Elizondo and Andres Rico.

SJA coach Tino Villarreal said he was glad his team had an opportunity to play in the tournament, even though it was tough to suffer a defeat in PKs.

“We want to be in games like this,” Villarreal said. “I told our players (after it was over) that when you go to penalty kicks, it’s going to be a coin flip (as to who wins).

“We want to play in games like this that challenge us and put us in tough situations, because in a non-district game like this one, you grow from it, win or lose,” Villarreal added. “You walk away from these types of games with something positive that you can take into your district and hopefully into the playoffs.”

To reach the championship match, SJA defeated Grulla 6-1 on Friday in the semifinals. The Red Ants advanced with Friday’s 2-1 semifinal win against IDEA Frontier.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

When the soccer match matters most down the stretch, the Hanna Golden Eagles are at their best, especially in District 32-6A.

Hanna is now 2-0 in 32-6A thanks to Friday’s 3-0 victory at home against Harlingen High as the Eagles broke out of a tight game with three goals during the final 21 1/2 minutes.

Hanna rallied from a 1-0 deficit with three goals during the last 18 minutes to win 3-1 in its district opener Tuesday at San Benito.

“It’s like I said before that every (32-6A) game is going to be interesting,” Eagles coach Reyes Prado said. “Yes, I said jokingly or not that the coaches are going to get a lot more grey hair (with these matches), but it’s fine. I guess it’s going to make us better in the long run competing against these teams (such as Harlingen High) that continue to get better and better every year.

“We’re fine (with that),” Prado added. “We accept the challenge and we look forward to it. Now we have to look to the match against our next opponent, which is (at Brownsville) Veterans (Memorial on Tuesday).

“Everybody has a good team and everybody is well-coached. We can see that on the field. It’s just as I suspected. It’s a dogfight every time that we play.”

The Eagles pressed the attack throughout the first half, but it was scoreless at intermission.

Things broke in Hanna’s favor with 21 1/2 minutes remaining as Jesus Hernandez’s goal from fairly close range put the Eagles on top 1-0.

It became 2-0 with 8 1/2 minutes left when the Eagles scored off a corner kick taken from the left side by Antonio Salazar.

The corner kick came to Edgar Loyde, who sent the ball into the goal on a perfectly placed header.

With 2 1/2 minutes to go, Hanna’s Oscar Cordova dribbled in undeterred and launched a strong shot that carried into the right corner of the net from approximately 18 yards out to account for the final result of 3-0.

Harlingen High, coming off a 1-0 loss to Rivera on Tuesday, will play next Tuesday at home against San Benito.

By ROY HESS, Staff Writer

Better than 1-0 in district is being 2-0.

The Hanna girls soccer team experienced that feeling Friday at home by earning a 2-0 District 32-6A triumph against the Harlingen High Lady Cardinals.

It was a night for the Hanna freshmen to shine as two varsity newcomers scored the Lady Golden Eagles’ goals. Lala Loyde made it 1-0 during the 27th minute of the opening half. Just two minutes into the second half, Hailey Pena boosted the lead to 2-0.

The Hanna girls were coming off Tuesday’s 2-1 win at San Benito.

“Our freshmen are shining, and it’s thanks to the seniors,” Lady Eagles coach Jose Morales said. “It definitely feels good to win tonight. I’m very happy (with our 2-0 record).

“We’re having a real good start to district,” Morales added. “Hopefully we can stay focused and work hard toward doing real well. The first thing we want to do is take a game at a time, and hopefully we can win them all. That would be nice.”

Loyde got things going when she appeared to nudge the ball in from close range out of a crowd during the 27th minute.

Pena’s goal also came from close range early during the second half. She brought the ball in and somehow squeezed it at a narrow angle between the goalkeeper and the right post for a tally into the right corner of the net. Hanna then led 2-0 with 38 minutes left to play.

Things could have become a lot more interesting with 28 minutes remaining after the Lady Cardinals (1-1), coming off a 2-1 victory Tuesday against Rivera, were awarded a penalty kick following a tripping call on the Lady Eagles.

However, the penalty kick attempt of Leah Rivas-Leal, a sophomore forward, sailed just right of the goal, keeping the Lady Cardinals scoreless.

“We did well, we just have to finish (and score),” Lady Cardinals coach Philip Oxford said. “We can afford a few mistakes on defense, but we have to finish our shots (on goal).

“We have some very good players, but we just couldn’t quite get it in tonight,” Oxford added. “We had two or three good chances right there at the goal, and then we missed a PK. How do you do that with one of your best players?

“So what do you do? We’ll be more competitive the next time we meet them (during the second round of district) at our place.”

Harlingen High next plays Tuesday at home against San Benito as 32-6A action continues. The same night, Hanna will be at Brownsville Veterans Memorial for a 32-6A match.