Three seniors are making a major run on the Valley’s all-time girls soccer scoring record and all three could surpass it by the end of a shortened season.
In fact, one of them may have surpassed it already. Research done by The Monitor shows at the top of the all-time scoring list are two girls from different ends of the Valley. Sharyland High’s Katie Watson scored 146 goals during her career, as well as Brownsville Rivera’s Yesenia Ortiz. Ortiz, however, reached that number in three seasons, not playing during her senior year due to injury.
Others had claimed that Los Fresnos star Tanya Prazelini was possibly the all-time leader. However, Prazelini said she scored 68 goals as a senior, 48 as a sophomore and 19 as a freshman. She also was injured, during her junior year, and scored only two for 137 during her career.
Ortiz is playing professional indoor soccer for Matamoros FC in the Liga Mexicana De Futbol Rapido. Prazelini is studying animal science at Texas A&M-Kingsville, but not playing soccer.
If those numbers hold, that means Sharyland High’s Xochitl Nguma is the new all-time scoring leader. Nguma currently sits at 154 career goals. Donna North’s Gabby Aviles scored twice Monday night in a 6-2 loss to Harlingen High to give her 139 goals. Edinburg Vela’s Taylor Campbell sits at 134.
COLLISION COURSE
Sharyland High and McAllen High continue to be en route to a clash of the titans. The Rattlers remained ranked No. 2 in the latest Texas High Schools Girls Coaches Association in Class 5A poll, while the Bulldogs remain No. 4 in the poll.
Both teams are 8-0 overall and their first meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at Sharyland High. Their second meeting is slated for 6 p.m., March 5 at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
FROM HOW FAR?
Donna North’s Aviles has 14 goals on the season and 11 in the past three matches, but one in particular stands out.
Last week during a match against Harlingen South with the Chiefs leading 3-2, Aviles had a free kick coming from 59.5 yards out, according to Donna North head coach Tony Garcia.
“Gabby took about a 6-yard run at it and lifted the ball up in the air so accurately and with enough power that it bounced only once 49 yards away and then it moved away from the opposing team’s goalkeeper and into the goal,” Garcia said. “Gabby says she took the free kick with the sole intent of feeding the ball to our offense. She’s a difference maker anywhere she is situated on the field and it’s always physically and mentally geared to be a key factor.”
TALKING ABOUT SCORING
While the race for the all-time scoring leader is a hot topic, there’s a freshman making a lot of noise by showing some impressive offensive prowess as well.
McAllen Rowe’s Camila Gil started the season in the midfield but head coach John Martinez moved her to forward after the fourth game. The paid has dividends. The freshman has netted 19 goals in 11 games, scoring multiple goals in five of them.
“She’s definitely been a threat for us,” Martinez said. “She is well over her years on the field and becoming a leader out there for us. She has an extremely bring future and I have no doubt will be playing at the next level in a few years.”
LONG-AWAITED WIN
When San Benito practiced Saturday morning, they had a pep in their step not seen in two years.
A win will do that to teams, especially after a long drought.
Sophomore Jessica Perez scored during a corner kick, knocking the ball in from in front of the goal midway through the first quarter to give San Benito a 1-0 lead and, eventually a 1-0 win. The Greyhounds had gone 0-10 in each of the past two seasons and are now 1-1 in District 32-6A.
“That was big motivation, a big boost,” second-year head coach Jesse “Chief” Gaytan said. “In practice today (Saturday), you could see they believed in the system even more now. It was a very different attitude. Now they are ready to go again.”
Next for San Benito is perennial power Los Fresnos.
“It’s all about their hard work,” Gaytan said. “We’re getting results now.”