FREDDY GONZALEZ | Valley Morning Star
HARLINGEN — It’s no secret that the Harlingen South Lady Hawks soccer program has historically been solid and this year is no different. In fact, the Lady Hawks have yet to miss the postseason in 21 years.
With players like Klarissa Gonzalez, Mellory Grannum, Adia Hurtado and Gabriella Velazquez, the Lady Hawks were able to finish 10-4 (three losses came in penalty kicks) and with the second seed out of District 32-6A.
Tonight the Lady Hawks look to kick off their playoff season with a first-round game against 31-6A third seed PSJA Memorial.
“We kind of had to grow up this season because we lost three starters at the beginning of the year, but fortunately we had three girls jump in there and play right away, and they have done a real good job,” said Harlingen South head coach Omar Pedroza. “Right now it’s the playoffs and any team you meet in the playoffs is going to be good. Right now if you lose that’s it, you’re done and you can’t play anybody again.
“I told the girls that this is it, they have to play hard from the get-go because there is no time to relax. They have to go hard for 80 minutes be-cause if they don’t, that’s it.”
One key difference this year is that the end of the regular season aligned with Spring Break and caused an almost three-week layoff between games. However, as coach Pedroza said, it’s a problem every team had to deal with.
“I think there is going to be some getting used to playing someone because we haven’t played anybody in about three weeks,” said Pedroza. “But I think every team is the same way because we have all been off for a while because everybody finished early. But everybody is going to be kind of the same.”
Last year, Harlingen South defeated Edinburg Vela 6-1 in bi-district and San Antonio 4-3 in the area round before losing to McAllen High 1-0 in the regional quarterfinals.
The winner between Harlingen South and PSJA Memorial will face either Laredo United or La Joya Juarez-Lincoln in the area round next week.