By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Yianey Diaz of Brownsville Rivera and Denisse Romero of Brownsville Porter stand out as two of the area’s top playmakers in girls soccer.
Fittingly, each has been named the overall MVP of her respective district for the 2020 season.
Diaz, a senior forward and three-year starter, is the MVP of District 32-6A, and Romero, a sophomore attacking midfielder and two-year starter, is the MVP of District 32-5A. Romero scored 15 goals on the season and assisted on approximately 90 percent of her team’s goals as well.
The offensive MVP of District 32-4A this season is Jocelyn Lizcano of La Feria. She is a senior who played various positions, mainly center midfielder, and led her team in qualifying for the playoffs with approximately 20 goals on the season.
Rio Hondo’s Vanessa Villanueva, a senior who helped the Lady Bobcats qualify for the playoffs, is the 32-4A defensive MVP.
Diaz led her team with 32 goals this season as the Lady Raiders qualified for the playoffs as the fourth-place seed from 32-6A.
She said it’s nice to be recognized for her efforts.
“To me, being named MVP means basically the saying (is true) that hard work pays off,” said Diaz, who intends to play soccer in college and already has one scholarship offer on the table, but has not yet signed. “These past 14 years (since starting to play soccer), I’ve been working hard. I think I worked even a little harder, beginning in the summer, this (school) year (as a senior). I just conditioned myself and did extra training to get myself ready for my last season at Rivera.
“I guess it did pay off because I got recognized (as 32-6A MVP),” she added. “It’s such an amazing award in one of the toughest districts, where all the girls are basically at a high level. It’s astonishing to be recognized.
“Compared to our 2019 season, I think we wanted it more (in 2020). We wanted to come out in the playoffs. Yes, we did lose some games, but in each and every game, we went in there with a fighting mentality. I think that’s why we qualified for the playoffs. The girls had the mentality that we were going to put up a strong fight in every game and not let our opponent win easily.”
Rounding out the top honorees on the All-District 32-6A team, it was Brownsville Hanna’s Ana Barragan, who scored 51 goals, as the offensive player of the year, and Los Fresnos’ Mindy Perez as the defensive player of the year.
Also in 32-6A, it was Harlingen High’s Maya Quinones as utility player of the year, Los Fresnos’ Andrea Calvillo as newcomer of the year and Harlingen South’s Omar Pedroza as coach of the year.
Pedroza just completed his 24th season as coach of the Lady Hawks, who captured the district title. Pedroza topped the 500 mark for career wins early during the 2020 season.
Besides Romero as MVP in 32-5A, it was Brownsville Pace’s Paloma Zamora and Brownsville Lopez’s Zaira Esquivel as the district’s offensive MVPs and Porter’s Marina Rios as defensive MVP.
Other 32-5A top honorees include Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s Rebekah Rodriguez, Pace’s Jacquelynn Palomino and Valley View’s Genesis Aguirre as newcomers of the year, and Porter’s Jeanette Aguirre and Donna High’s America Lara as utility players of the year.
Edcouch-Elsa’s Arissa Cavazos is goalkeeper of the year, and Porter’s Abraham Gracia of the district champion Cowgirls is coach of the year.
District 32-4A did not name an overall MVP as La Feria’s Lizcano was the offensive MVP and Rio Hondo’s Villanueva was the defensive MVP.
Also in 32-4A, Brownsville IDEA Riverview’s Mia J. Ramos was the newcomer of the year.
Girls All-District Lists
District 32-6A
MVP
Yianey Diaz, Brownsville Rivera
Offensive Player of the Year
Ana Barragan, Brownsville Hanna
Defensive Player of the Year
Mindy Perez, Los Fresnos
Utility Player of the Year
Maya Quinones, Harlingen High
Newcomer of the Year
Andrea Calvillo, Los Fresnos
Coach of the Year
Omar Pedroza, Harlingen South
First Team
Forwards: Sarah Grace Garza, Harlingen South; Monique Rodriguez, Harlingen High; Ashley Esparza, Los Fresnos; Rose Santillian, Brownsville Rivera; Leslie Martinez, San Benito; Isabel Ortiz, Brownsville Hanna
Midfielders: Sandra Lopez, Harlingen South; Serena Escobar, Harlingen High; Kristy Herrera, Brownsville Hanna; Lesly Pena, Brownsville Rivera; Briana Gracia, Los Fresnos; Vanessa Alcala, San Benito
Defenders: Kim Salazar, Los Fresnos; Desiree Perez, Brownsville Rivera; Lauren Powell, Harlingen High; Korynne Reininger, Harlingen South; Aliyah Castillo, Brownsville Hanna; Lorena Barron, San Benito
Goalkeepers: Joana Marquez, Harlingen South; Kayla Alonso, Brownsville Rivera
Second Team
Forwards: Aaliyah Garza, San Benito; Caroline Grannum, Harlingen South; Samantha Rasco, Brownsville; Jocelyn Gaznares, Los Fresnos; Samantha Galvan, Brownsville Hanna; Kay-Lani Vasquez, Harlingen High
Midfielders: Paola Martinez, San Benito; Olivia Olivares, Harlingen South; Pamela Prado, Brownsville Hanna; Hannah Wrinkle, Los Fresnos; Vanessa Alvarado, Brownsville Rivera; Jacqueline Vargas, Harlingen High
Defenders: Gillian Cespedes, Harlingen High; Shannon Perez, Brownsville Hanna; Gabby Martinez, Harlingen South; Francela Perez, Brownsville Rivera; America Vigil, San Benito; Sara Garza, Los Fresnos
Goalkeeper: Erianah Garza Zapata, Harlingen High
Honorable Mention
Harlingen South: Haley Danner, Isabel Aldan
Harlingen High: Rosa Zapata, Grace Alcocer
Brownsville Hanna: Melanie Zavala, Alyassa Perez
Los Fresnos: Yulianna Moreno, Natalia Alegria
Brownsville Rivera: Yulianna Villa nueva, Ivon Espinoza
San Benito: Frida Longoria, Valeria Martinez
District 32-5A
MVP
Denisse Romero, Brownsville Porter
Offensive MVPs
Paloma Zamora, Brownsville Pace; Zaira Esquivel, Brownsville Lopez
Defensive MVP
Marina Rios, Brownsville Porter
Newcomers of the Year
Rebekah Rodriguez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Jacquelynn Palomino, Brownsville Pace; Genesis Aguirre, Valley View
Utility Players of the Year
Jeanette Aguirre, Brownsville Porter; America Lara, Donna High
Goalkeeper of the Year
Arissa Cavazos, Edcouch-Elsa
Coach of the Year
Abraham Gracia, Brownsville Porter
First Team
Goalkeeper: Jazmine Reyna, Brownsville Porter
Defenders: Keenia Palacios, Brownsville Porter; Alexis Mendez, Brownsville Porter; Andrea Hurtado, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Kenya Gonzalez, Brownsville Lopez; Kenia Galvan-Resendiz, Brownsville Pace; Viviana Lucio, Brownsville Pace; Jackie Garcia, Edcouch-Elsa; Alexa Amaro, Valley View; Lamar Lopez, Donna High; Daniela Flores, Mercedes
Midfielders: Jacqueline Gonzalez, Brownsville Porter; Arely Guzman, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Viviana Gutierrez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Samantha Valdez, Brownsville Lopez; Sarah Flores, Edcouch-Elsa; Vanessa Cerda, Edcouch-Elsa; Daniela Abundiz, Mercedes
Forwards: Azaneth Perez, Brownsville Porter; Ania Laguna, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Adamaris Rangel, Brownsville Lopez; Jazul Amaya-Avalos, Brownsville Pace; Yahaira Gonzalez, Valley View; Madalyn Park, Donna High
Second Team
Goalkeeper: Grecia Quinonez, Brownsville Lopez
Defenders: Angela Vallejo, Brownsville Porter; Ashley Garcia, Brownsville Porter; Loren Averyt, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Kenia Quinonez, Brownsville Lopez; Jennifer Gamez, Brownsville Lopez; Jaimie Silva, Brownsville Pace; Lillian Barrera, Brownsville Pace; Sujey Coronado, Mercedes
Midfielders: Liberty Garza, Brownsville Porter; Kassandra Sanchez, Brownsville Porter; Kennidy Rudd, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Vianca Sandoval, Brownsville Pace; Teresa Gallegos, Edcouch-Elsa; Neil Ramirez, Valley View; Xanath Reyes, Valley View; Debanhi Esparza, Donna High; Samantha Contreras, Donna High; Leslie Garza, Mercedes
Forwards: Ana Karen Garcia, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Karen Hernandez, Edcouch-Elsa; Miah Romero, Edcouch-Elsa
Honorable Mention
Goalkeeper: none
Defenders: Maria Hernandez, Brownsville Lopez; Vivian Esparza, Donna High
Midfielders: Brianna Guzman, Brownsville Porter; Yadira Ramos, Brownsville Porter; Margarita Martinez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Tiffany Matambu, Brownsville Lopez; Jessica Amaya, Brownsville Pace; Meagan Alvarado, Edcouch-Elsa; Emily Lopez, Edcouch-Elsa; Daniela Vargas, Valley View; Carolina Perez, Valley View; Nallely Silva, Donna High; Karianna Garcia, Mercedes
Forwards: Raquel Cepeda, Brownsville Veterans Memorial; Pily Martin, Brownsville Pace; Kayla Ybarra, Mercedes
District 32-4A
Offensive MVP
Jocelyn Lizcano, La Feria
Defensive MVP
Vanessa Villanueva, Rio Hondo
Newcomer of the Year
Mia J. Ramos, Brownsville IDEA Riverview
First Team
Goalkeeper: Nicole Pelt, Port Isabel
Forwards: Kaitlynn Pena, Rio Hondo; Corina Arizmendi, Brownsville Jubilee; Leslie Perez, Monte Alto; Juliann Hernandez, Port Isabel; Aleyna Frias, Lyford
Midfielders: Sandra Garcia, Brownsville Jubilee; Danielle Champine, Lyford; Serena Quinones, Rio Hondo; Anna Elizondo, Port Isabel
Defenders: Cassity Villareal, Rio Hondo; Veronica Martinez, Raymondville; Anahi Castillo, Monte Alto; Kaitlyn Longoria, La Feria; Luz Gallegos, Brownsville Jubilee; Sharon Ramos, Lyford; Claire Martinez, Brownsville Harmony
Second Team
Goalkeeper: Aurora Salinas, Lyford
Forwards: Jerrica Quinones, Rio Hondo; Emalee Lopez, Raymondville; Jennifer Leal, La Feria
Midfielders: Chloe Helton, Port Isabel; Gabriela Zepeda, La Feria; Rachel Medrano, Monte Alto; Julie Del Bosque, Rio Hondo; Ayisha Andrews, Rio Hondo
Defenders: Andrea Alaniz, Lyford; Angelica Ledezma, Brownsville IDEA Frontier; Aaliyah Myhand, La Feria; Alexa Gonzalez, Port Isabel; Paloma Murillo, Rio Hondo; Melanie Gutierrez, Monte Alto
Honorable Mention
Brownsville IDEA Frontier: Devine Soto, Kimberly Rivera, Araceli Medellin, Mariana Jackson, Viveth Vasquez, Vanessa Hernandez
La Feria: Misrrain Granado, Kathryn Reyes, Selina Villarreal, Diana Zuniga, Amanda Cisneros, Taylor Garza
Lyford: Katherine Loredo, Dajia Valdez, Andrea Torres, Kayla Castro, Priscilla Lerma, Amanda Contreras, Emilia Cavazos
Port Isabel: Shayla Ochoa, Zanelly Esquivel, Mariacruz Leon Hernandez, Crystal Vega, Netfally Torres, Juana Perez
Raymondville: Juanita Perez, Ziclali Vasquez, Daliarlen Garza
Rio Hondo: Angela Lopez, Alexis Farias, Dahlia Medrano, Elizabeth Hernandez
Brownsville Jubilee: Sofia De La Torre, Angela Quintero, Saoirse O’Connell, Paola Vargas, Grecia Almaguer, Leslie Barrera, Alejandra Perez, Pricila Hernandez, Julissa Garza, Stephanie Aguilar
Monte Alto: Naveah Ramos, Jasmine Morales, Esmer Flores, Maritza Sierra, Elisaa Velasquez