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.