By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
McALLEN — One goal would have been enough. Yet the Harlingen South Lady Hawks wound up adding two late scores to win 3-0 during Tuesday’s Class 6A area-round soccer match against McAllen Rowe on the Lady Warriors’ home field.
All three goals came during the second half.
The first one was scored on a header by Caroline Grannum with 26 minutes left in the second half, which was the 54th minute. Teammates Alise Garza and Mellory Grannum, Caroline’s older sister, tallied one goal apiece during the final eight and a half minutes to account for the decisive final score.
“I was a little unsure about that one because I kind of suck at headers,” said Caroline Grannum, a junior forward. “My friend Alise crossed it to me. I hardly ever score a header, but for some reason I was able to hit the ball with my head, and, thankfully, it went in.
“It felt really good (to score),” she added. “I just wanted us to not let up, so I just kept playing hard.”
The victory advances the District 32-6A runner-up Lady Hawks to a third-round matchup later this week against District 30-6A champion McAllen High.
“I think it was the fact that we stayed with it tonight,” Lady Hawks coach Omar Pedroza said. “We didn’t play well the first half, but I have some smart girls and we knew there were some things we needed to do in the second half, and that’s what we did.
“We got rid of the ball a lot quicker, we made some better passes and we tried to open up things (during the final 40 minutes),” Pedroza added. “We were holding on to the ball too much in the first half. We got together and talked about it (at halftime), and things opened up for us.”
With eight and a half minutes remaining, Garza sent a crossing shot from the left side into the right corner of the net to make it 2-0.
One minute or so later, Mellory Grannum, a senior forward/midfielder, added her goal and the Lady Hawks were on their way to a 3-0 victory.
Lady Warriors coach John Martinez said he greatly appreciates the strong effort his 30-6A fourth-place Lady Warriors gave throughout the season.
“The final score doesn’t really show how close the game was,” he said. “We had a good game plan coming in and the girls fought hard, even though South added those two late goals.
“I’m thankful for the seniors and all the hard work and determination they’ve given me throughout these four years,” Martinez added. “I’m blessed to have these girls as a coach.
“(Losing eventually) happens to all of us.”