By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Thanks to Tuesday’s 2-0 District 32-6A win at Hanna, the Harlingen South Lady Hawks have clinched a spot in the state soccer playoffs.
A first-half goal by Amber Ray and a second-half tally by Stephanie Torres lifted the Lady Hawks (8-4, 24 points) to victory and it gives them a return trip to the postseason.
“This is a huge win for us,” South coach Omar Pedroza said. “I’m glad we got this one playing at Hanna with two (32-6A) games left to go. I think it puts us in pretty good shape for the playoffs.”
Actually, the South girls are in real good shape for the postseason because the worst they can do now is tie Hanna (6-6, 18 points) for fourth place in 32-6A if they lose their next two games and the Lady Golden Eagles win twice.
If that were to happen and the two teams tie for fourth place, South already has swept Hanna (4-0 and 2-0) in the two teams’ district matches, so the Lady Hawks would have the edge on the tiebreaker of head-to-head meetings, if it comes to that.
South closes its 32-6A schedule against San Benito and Harlingen High, while Hanna finishes against Rivera and Los Fresnos.
Sadly, the loss effectively ends Hanna’s playoff hopes because it appears the Lady Eagles would also lose the tiebreaker with Brownsville Veterans Memorial (8-4, 24 points) if the Lady Chargers lost their next two games and Hanna won both to tie for fourth place.
South and Brownsville Veterans are tied for third place in district behind Los Fresnos (10-2, 30 points) and Lopez (9-3, 26 points). The Lady Falcons and Lady Lobos have clinched playoff spots as well along with the Lady Chargers, so the district’s four postseason berths now are taken.
During Tuesday’s game at Hanna, South’s Ray gave her team a 1-0 lead with barely five minutes left in the opening half. Ray dribbled in and broke free from the defenders who were trying to stop her. Finding herself in a 1-on-1 matchup with the Hanna goalkeeper, Ray sent a shot into the net from just outside the box for the only goal the Lady Hawks needed.
To seal the victory, South’s Torres scored from close range with 10 minutes remaining to make it 2-0.
South is at home against San Benito on Friday while Hanna takes on Rivera at Sams Memorial Stadium the same night.