By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Having a player score 100 goals in a high school career is quite a remarkable feat.
The Pace Lady Vikings now have had girls attain that milestone in back-to-back soccer seasons.
Alexis Guajardo, a senior forward/midfielder, scored twice during Monday’s 5-1 District 32-5A win at Valley View to reach the 100-goal plateau.
Krissie Rivera, who accomplished the same feat last season, later signed to play soccer at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Guajardo signed last month to play for Southwestern University in Georgetown.
“As I reflect on my past four seasons as a Viking, I am grateful for all my teammates who have contributed to my 100 goals,” said Guajardo, whose club team is Classic Elite (previously RGV Toros). “I can’t say I approached my high school career with this goal in mind, but I am elated with the accomplishment. I feel this is simply a result of my love for the game.
“This achievement has certainly contributed to our team’s success this season,” she added. “I believe it will fuel our motivation and confidence to advance further into the playoffs than we ever have before.”
With one district game remaining at home against Porter next Tuesday, the Lady Vikings have clinched their second straight 32-5A championship. They advanced three rounds in the playoffs last season.
Guajardo is a big part of that success.
“Alexis is a tremendous player and has committed to the team in many ways such as assisting, defending and scoring,” Lady Vikings coach Jesus O. Villarreal said. “We made a commitment to develop a highly competitive team, and these stats (of 100-goal scorers) are the results of working hard as a team.
“Alexis is a very dedicated player on and off the field,” he added. “She has committed to the team in many aspects.”
CHELIN GOES PRO
Isidro “Chelin” Martinez was a standout member of Rivera’s 2015 Class 6A state championship team that went 28-0. He was chosen as the 2015 Gatorade/USA Today High School Player of the Year in Texas.
“Chelin” went on to play four seasons for the UTRGV Vaqueros and has just signed to continue his soccer career with the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros of Edinburg.
“I feel happy to be able to keep playing, and there’s nothing better than to do it close to home,” he said. “God willing, I will be graduating from UTRGV in May with a degree in rehabilitation service in addiction studies.”
Martinez, a midfielder, appeared in 70 games for the Vaqueros and scored nine goals along with recording 13 assists.
Another Brownsville native, Isaac Acevedo, a goalkeeper who played at Porter in 2018 and then transferred to Houston before the 2019 high school season, also has signed with the Toros.
32-6A UPDATE
Here are the latest District 32-6A boys standings: Rivera (7-2, 21 points), Hanna (5-4, 16 points), Harlingen South (5-4, 15 points), San Benito (5-4, 14 points), Los Fresnos (3-6, eight points) and Harlingen High (2-7, seven points).
Boys playoff qualifiers: Rivera, Hanna, South and San Benito.
Here are the most recent 32-6A girls standings: Los Fresnos (8-1, 23 points), Harlingen South (7-2, 22 points), Hanna (6-3, 17 points), Harlingen High (4-5, 12 points), Rivera (2-7, seven points) and San Benito (0-9, no points).
Girls playoff qualifiers: Los Fresnos, South, Hanna and Harlingen High.
32-5A UPDATE
Here are the most recent 32-5A boys standings: Valley View (12-1, 36 points), Brownsville Veterans Memorial (10-3, 30 points), Porter (8-4, 28 points), Pace (8-5, 24 points), Lopez (7-6, 20 points), Donna High (2-11, six points), Edcouch-Elsa (2-11, six points) and Mercedes (2-11, six points).
Boys playoff qualifiers: Valley View, Brownsville Veterans, Porter and Pace.
Here are the latest 32-5A girls standings: Pace (11-2, 34 points), Lopez (9-4, 26 points), Edcouch-Elsa (9-4, 26 points), Porter (9-4, 23 points), Brownsville Veterans (7-6, 22 points), Donna High (5-8, 18 points), Mercedes (2-11, six points) and Valley View (0-13, no points).
Girls playoff qualifiers: Pace, Lopez and E-E. Fourth playoff spot: Porter or Brownsville Veterans.