HARLINGEN — The Harlingen South Lady Hawks got the start they needed heading into a tough three-game stretch to start the 32-6A District season.
Emily Vasquez and Caroline Gannum scored one goal a piece as the Lady Hawks defeated the Harlingen Lady Cardinals 2-0 Friday evening at Boggus Stadium.
“It was tough tonight,” said Harlingen South head coach Omar Pedroza. “We had the wind in the first half when Emily scored and then they (Harlingen High) did a better job of controlling the ball in the second half, but it’s always a tough game against Harlingen no matter what.”
During the game, temperatures dipped into the low 60s and high 50s, but it was the 20 mph wind that wrecked havoc on both defenses. The offenses, on the other hand, used it to their advantage.
Vasquez opened the scoring just 10 minutes into the contest after controlling the ball inside the box before firing a shot past the Harlingen High goalkeeper to give South the early lead.
In the second half, with the wind at their backs, the Lady Cardinals attacked with the long ball over South’s defense as Kaylani Vasquez used her pace to get behind the line.
However, it was the Lady Hawks’ tenacity that earned them their second goal.
With less than 10 minutes left to play in the match, Gannum used her strength and speed to get past Harlingen’s defense and notched the Lady Hawks’ insurance goal. Gannum went one-on-one with the Cardinal goalkeeper only to shoot it right at her. Fortunately for Gannum and the Lady Hawks, the side referee ruled that both the keeper and the ball had crossed the line.
The schedule doesn’t get much easier for South. On Tuesday the Lady Hawks take on Los Fresnos, a team coach Pedroza has plenty of respect for.
“Los Fresnos is probably the best team in our district so we have this weekend and Monday to get ready for a tough game at Los Fresnos,” said Pedroza.
The Lady Cardinals, meanwhile, host Brownsville Rivera on Tuesday.