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.