BY TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
DONNA — The Harlingen South Hawks used a trio of first-half goals and a late second-half surge to turn back the Donna North Chiefs 5-3 Thursday night to win the bi-district matchup.
Five Harlingen South players scored goals, but the Hawks had to rely on a late second-half penalty kick and a goalie’s miscue to break 3-3 tie and extinguish a furious Donna North comeback.
South advances to play McAllen Rowe in the area round, meanwhile Donna North’s season ends with the home loss.
The stiff southeast wind was a major factor in the match as the first six goals scored were all notched on the field’s north net. South scored its first three over a four-minute stretch that sent the Lady Chiefs reeling into intermission.
South coach Omar Pedroza said he told his team at the break that the game could easily be tied when the wind would turn in Donna’s favor — and it did.
“Look, I told them at half that they were a really good team. I told them to relax. They are very capable,” Pedroza said. “Then we went from 3-0 to 3-3 real quick. They are an outstanding team. We just managed to score in the couple chances we had in the second half.”
Donna North’s charge was led by sophomore forward Gabby Aviles. Her fight, speed and right leg lifted North right back into the game with goals at the 34:50 and 20:45 marks to make the score 3-2 in South’s favor.
Four minutes later and leveraging the all-important wind, Nancy Espino scored the equalizer from some 35 yards out. The two teams played evenly until South was awarded a penalty as the result of a hand ball.
The Hawks’ Stephanie Torres calmly found the net and with 9:52 left in the contest. Harlingen remained in control the rest of the way, adding an insurance score late to finally put the game on ice.
Aviles said the Chiefs did not get down at half, and she was proud of their effort.
“We said at the beginning of the game no matter what happens we need to fight and we need to push,” she said. “I think we’re going to do good again (next year) definitely. We want to make it into the playoffs again and just keep on going until we can’t.”