FREDDY GONZALEZ | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — It’s been a long season for Harlingen South head coach Omar Pedroza and his Lady Hawks, but they wouldn’t want it any other way.
For senior captains Sonia Quintana and Emily Velazquez a longer season just means they get to play alongside their teammates just a little bit longer.
“I’ve been playing varsity since I was a freshman and once we get to playoffs we always say ‘we are doing it for our seniors,’” said Harlingen South defender Sonia Quintana. “I never really took that to heart until this year and I’m just really glad that I get to share this with this set of girls because it’s great and we are a really good team and I really do have a lot of faith in us.”
For the past four years the two have graced the soccer fields in a Lady Hawks uniform against some of the toughest competition and today’s area-round playoff game at Cabaniss field in Corpus Christi against San Antonio Southwest is no different.
After blowing out Edinburg Vela 6-0 in their bi-district matchup last Friday, the Lady Hawks suit up to face a tough Lady Dragons team that hasn’t lost a game since mid-January, including a 4-0 bi-district victory against La Joya High.
“We’re expecting it to be a pretty competitive game against as really tough team,” said Quintana. “And though I feel that we are ready and we’ve been working together, all in all it is the second round and you have to expect a good game.
“We’re pretty hyped for this game and we’re ready for anything that comes our way,” added Velazquez.
And the Lady Hawks are used to playing against tough opponents week in and week out. As Coach Pedroza explained, a competitive District 32-6A gets the team ready for the playoffs.
“Last season all of our district teams won in the first round of the playoffs and this year all of our team won in the first round of the playoffs again,” he said. “That just tells you that the competition is tough and I think it gets us ready for the playoffs.”
Last season, Harlingen South reached the regional quarterfinals where the team lost to Los Fresnos 1-0. This year the team is hoping to match that feat.
“Every time we bring up the game we all know that we all have trust in each other in the fact that we all know that whom ever is play that position on the field that they can play it,” said Quintana. “We all have that trust going on and we all have that connection and communicate really well.
“We’re really excited going into the game and we have a lot of faith in our team. Going to Corpus Christi we can’t wait to give them a good game and hopefully move on to round three.”