McALLEN — Two streaks were on the line heading into Tuesday’s District 31-5A contest between McAllen High and PSJA Southwest – Vicente Alvarez’s district scoring streak and the Bulldogs’ unbeaten mark.
Though both remained intact, the Javelinas were able to give McAllen High a small taste of defeat, grabbing two points with a 10-9 penalty shootout victory over the Bulldogs at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen.
Despite the shootout loss, the Bulldogs remain without a mark in the loss column, with regulation ending in a 1-1 draw. The Bulldogs move to 4-0-2 in district play, still holding on to first place with 15 points.
“It is hard to be first place in this tough district, but it is better to be on top than to be in the back,” PSJA Southwest head coach Juan Rodriguez said. “We still have a long way to go, but it is better being near the top than trying to climb from the bottom.”
PSJA Southwest got on the board early, with star forward Yahir Pena heading in a crossing pass from Lucas Leos off a corner kick during the 10th minute.
The Bulldogs struck back during the 27th minute, with Alvarez recovering a loose ball inside the box and tapping it into a wide open net for the game-tying goal. The score marks the sixth straight game Alvarez has found paydirt, bringing his season total to a district-leading 11 goals.
The second half featured a back-and-forth affair between the two teams, with neither able to score, sending the game into penalty kicks.
After nine straight makes by each team, PSJA Southwest goalkeeper Gabriel Soto came up with the play of the game, netting the go-ahead score on the Javelinas’ 10th attempt, followed by the game-winning save on McHi’s ensuing attempt.
The victory moves PSJA Southwest to 4-1-1 on the year, sitting just one point behind McAllen High in the standings (14) with three games remaining during the first round of district.
“I can say one thing, tonight was a very hard game,” Rodriguez said. “The weather didn’t help of course. Fortunately, we had our guys come in and take care of business. We never looked down. This wind makes it a hard game, but we came to take some points home and we did that.”
McAllen High hits to road at 8 p.m. Friday for a contest against Edinburg Vela. The Javelinas return home for a contest against Sharyland Pioneer at 8 p.m. Friday.
McALLEN ROWE 5, SHARYLAND HIGH 4 (PKs)
At McAllen, the Warriors held off a furious Sharyland High rally to secure two points with a penalty shootout victory over the Rattlers.
The Rattlers used a four-goal second half performance to claw back into the game, erasing a 3-0 halftime deficit. Four different players scored for the Rattlers, including Alan Guerrero and Edward Morales, both who rank among the district leaders in goals.
The Warriors, like Sharyland High, had four different players score during the game, including Carlos Rangel, the district’s No. 3 leading scorer.
Sharyland High’s comeback attempt fell just short, leaving with just one point in tow. They move to 3-1-2 on the season, sitting in fourth with 11 points. The Warriors improve to 2-2-2, vaulting PSJA Memorial for fifth place with nine points.
PSJA MEMORIAL 4, SHARYLAND PIONEER 3 (PKs)
At Mission, the Wolverines found themselves in a penalty shootout for the fifth time in six games, coming away with a 5-4 victory in PKs.
The Wolverines have yet to win a game in regulation this season, tallying a 0-1-5 mark, including three penalty shootout wins. They sit in sixth in the district with 8 points.
PSJA Memorial looks to pick up their first district win at 8 p.m. Friday, taking on McAllen Memorial on the road.
VALLEY VIEW 1, McALLEN MEMORIAL 0
At McAllen, Valley View bounced back after a loss to Sharyland High on Friday, moving into a tie for second with PSJA Southwest with 14 points each.
Ever Arredondo continued his hot offensive start to district play, netting the lone goal of the match to secure the Tigers win. He ranks No. 2 in District 31-5A in scoring with nine goals in six games.
The Tigers (4-1-1) host the Warriors (2-2-2) at 8 p.m. Friday at Tiger Stadium in Hidalgo. The Mustangs (2-4-0) look to snap a four-game losing streak at 8 p.m. Friday, taking on PSJA Memorial at home.
DISTRICT 32-5A
BROWNSVILLE VETERANS 2, DONNA NORTH 1
At Donna, the Chargers jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind goals from Parsa Setayesh and didn’t look back, improving to 3-2-1 in district play.
The victory gives Brownsville Veterans a one-point advantage in the standings over the Chiefs and Weslaco East after Tuesday’s slate of games.
The Chargers take on Mercedes at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Tiger Stadium in Mercedes. The Chiefs travel to Brownsville to take on the Porter Cowboys at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
BROWNSVILLE PORTER 5, HARLINGEN SOUTH 1
At Brownsville, Alessandro Lara recorded a hat trick, while Martin Gonzalez added a brace to lead the Cowboys to their fifth straight victory.
Since their Week 1 loss to Weslaco East, the Cowboys have outscored their opponents 22-2, allowing goals in just two of their five games since.
Lara and Gonzalez have been key during that stretch, each netting nine goals, tied for first in the district.
The Cowboys (5-1-0) host the Donna North Chiefs at 5:30 p.m. Friday before a road contest against Brownsville Lopez at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
BROWNSVILLE LOPEZ 9, EDCOUCH-ELSA 0
At Brownsville, the Lobos continued their offensive tear, scoring at least eight goals for the third straight game.
Chacho Zuniga and Jesus Hernandez were catalysts for the Lobos offense, each recording a hat trick during the victory.
The victory marked the third straight for the Lobos, outscoring opponents 26-2 since their loss to Brownsville Veterans on Jan. 21. They sit at 5-1-0 after Tuesday.
They turn their attention to a road game against Harlingen South at 5:30 p.m. Friday before taking on the Cowboys (5-1-0) at home at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
BROWNSVILLE PACE 2, DONNA HIGH 0
At Donna, the Vikings jumped out to a 2-0 lead and didn’t look back, picking up their second district win of the year.
The Vikings (2-3-1) were led by goals from Oscar Aldape and Felipe Reyes, moving into sixth in the district with eight points.
They close out the week with a home contest against Weslaco East at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
District 30-4A
HIDALGO 4, VANGUARD REMBRANDT 0
At Hidalgo, defender Gabriel Ordonez scored twice to help the Pirates stay unbeaten in district play.
Ordonez, who won last year’s All-Area Defensive Player of the Year award, has seen an expanded role on offense this year, sometimes moving up to help spark the Pirates offense.
That was the case Tuesday, with Hidalgo head coach Zeke Morales moving the lanky defender up to help counter Vanguard Rembrandt’s defensive strategy of crowding the box.
The move worked with Ordonez sparking the Pirates offense and the victory. Midfielder Joaquin Rosales and Rey Cardenas added to the scoring, each netting one goal.
The Pirates (3-0-0) continue their district title hunt at 6 p.m. Friday against the Zapata Hawks at Zapata High.
DISTRICT 31-4A
PROGRESO 4, EDINBURG IDEA QUEST 0
At Progreso, the Red Ants pitched their second straight shutout and Cesar Cuenca scored in his third straight game to help Progreso remain perfect in district play.
Cuenca’s two goal performance moves him to five on the year, tied for first in the district. The Red Ants have outscored opponents 12-0 over the past two games, only allowing goals during their district opener.
Progreso (3-0-0) hits the road at 7:30 p.m. Friday for a game against Donna IDEA (0-2-0).
WESLACO IDEA PIKE 4, EDINBURG IDEA 1
At Edinburg, the Mavericks cruised to their third straight victory, joining the Red Ants as the two remaining unbeaten teams in the district.
Rafa Montejano netted two goals to lead the Mavericks, bringing his season total to five, tied with Progreso’s Cuenca.
Weslaco IDEA Pike (3-0-0) hosts Alamo IDEA (1-1-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
DISTRICT 32-4A
BROWNSVILLE JUBILEE 11, RIO HONDO 0
At Rio Hondo, Roger Galvan netted five goals to help the Titans bounce back from their first district loss last week.
Galvan was one of six scorers for the Titan, with Axel Rodriguez scoring twice and Roberto Garcia, Rodrigo Trevino, Sebastian Trevino and Diego Zuniga each scoring once.
The Titans improve to 6-1-0 in district play sitting comfortably in first with 18 points.
BROWNSVILLE IDEA RIVERVIEW 2, PORT ISABEL 1 (OT)
At Brownsville, Haziel Mejia netted his 11th district goal in overtime to lead the Rockets past the Tarpons.
Brownsville IDEA Riverview scored the final two goals of the game, tying it during the second half on a goal by Emmanuel Ramirez to set up overtime.
The Rockets (3-1-1) move to second in the district with 11 points. They’ll look to build off their second straight win at 7 p.m. Friday against La Feria.