By ROY HESS
Staff Writer
Last soccer season marked a step forward for the Harlingen High Cardinals.
They returned to the state playoffs for the first time in 10 years under first-year coach Johnny Guillen, who was a standout for the Cardinals as a player before graduating in 2006.
Expectations for the Cardinals are to duplicate or improve upon their showing of 2018 with another trip to the postseason.
So far, mainly due to many injuries, it’s been a slow start to the UIL season that opened Jan. 3 for the Cardinals.
Guillen said the team’s main goal at this point is to be ready and healthy for the start of District 32-6A competition Feb. 1.
“When we’re healthy and at our full potential with everybody playing, we can be great,” Guillen said. “The main thing right now is getting back to normal and getting healthy before district starts.
“They’re not major injuries,” Guillen added. “I’m just trying to play it safe for district. At the end of the season last year, I told myself I was going to schedule us some tough non-district opponents (in 2019), and that way there would be no excuses that we didn’t get ourselves ready for district.”
The Cardinals coach said his team’s best showing so far in 2019 was a 2-2 tie against Houston Aldine during the first weekend of the season at a tournament in Houston.
There are some experienced players back for the Cardinals. They include three-year starters on defense in Lorenzo Rodriguez and Luis Garcia. Also in the mix is Skylar Zapata.
Guillen said Jacob Garza is a utility player who can play any position on the field, and is also a three-year starter. A four-year starter in the midfield is Jesus Berlanga, plus the Cardinals have three-year starter Jesus Reyna up front.
“What I have liked so far is the team chemistry we are playing with,” Guillen said. “We are playing a lot more as a team rather than playing as individuals.”
Harlingen High’s challenging non-district schedule continues at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, as the Cardinals play host to the Brownsville Pace Vikings at the Cardinals’ Mini-Stadium.
Here is a look at the other two 32-6A boys teams in the Harlingen-San Benito area:
HARLINGEN SOUTH HAWKS
The Hawks came up one point shy of tying the Cardinals for fourth place in 32-6A last season. The Hawks last advanced to the postseason in 2017, and in 2016 had lost a district “play-in” match after tying for fourth place.
This season the goal is to make it back to the playoffs with a strong showing in 32-6A.
Like the Cardinals, the Hawks opened the season at a tournament in Houston the first weekend of January. Both the Hawks and Cardinals just got done playing in the past weekend’s 37th annual Brownsville ISD Tournament/Showcase, where each of the Harlingen schools played four matches.
The Hawks won three and lost one at the BISD event. Their victories came against McAllen High (3-1), Edinburg Economedes (6-5) and Brownsville St. Joseph (6-0).
“We are very happy with our results so far and have been improving as a team,” South coach Julian Robles said. “We are still relatively young as a team together, and after our Houston trip our chemistry has been rising.
“We are still having a hard time finding the back of the net, but that can be practiced and improved,” Robles added. “The team’s attitude, work ethic and the desire to learn has been its foundation this year.”
The South coach said the Hawks are led by five seniors. They include goalkeeper Jacob Garcia, defenders Angel Ortega, Eric Lopez and Hunter Massey, and forward Jose Lerma.
The team’s starting lineup is rounded out by four sophomores, two juniors and one freshman.
“One of the sophomores is Leo Torres, who was the 32-6A newcomer of the year last season,” Robles said. “We also have freshman Joaquin Ovalle, who has been growing up quickly at the varsity level.”
The Hawks resume their non-district schedule at 7:30 p.m. today at Donna High.
SAN BENITO GREYHOUNDS
Like the Hawks and Cardinals, the Greyhounds played four games at the BISD Tournament/Showcase during the past weekend. The Greyhounds won twice and lost twice. The victories were against Austin St. Stephens (2-1) and Donna High (4-0).
William Huerta returns as San Benito’s third-year coach.
Just like South, the Greyhounds wound up one point from tying for fourth place in 32-6A last season. San Benito’s last trip to the postseason was 2014.
“I think our team has been competitive with the scrimmages and non-district games we have had,” Huerta said. “I think with our non-district schedule and the tournaments we’re playing, we should be ready to compete in district.”
Top players for the Greyhounds this season include midfielder Isidoro Najera, forward Senovio Cerdan, defender Axel Rivera and goalkeeper Gonzalo Villarreal.
Also, Fernando Perez and Arturo Arratia scored San Benito’s goals in the 2-1 win against St. Stephens.
Non-district play continues for the Greyhounds at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at home against Weslaco East.