By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
Tuesday marked a notable day on the soccer field for the Lopez Lobos as they claimed possession of the District 32-5A championship.
The Lobos closed out their 32-5A schedule with a 5-2 victory at home against Pace.
The victory clinched the district title for Lopez, which finished 32-5A competition in first place with a 13-1 record and 39 points. The Lobos play Laredo Martin in bi-district next week.
In the nightcap of Tuesday’s 32-5A doubleheader at Lopez, the Pace girls defeated the Lady Lobos 3-2 in overtime. The Lady Vikings already had won the 32-5A championship prior to Tuesday, and the victory over the Lady Lobos allowed the Pace girls to finish district with a 14-0 record and 42 points.
Meanwhile, had the Lopez boys lost Tuesday, the district title would have gone to Brownsville Veterans Memorial (13-1, 37 points), which won 3-2 at Donna High, also on Tuesday. Brownsville Veterans won the district crown last season.
A trophy presentation immediately followed Tuesday’s victory by the boys with the Lopez fans loudly voicing their support for the Lobos.
“This is not the end, it’s just the start of what we want to do,” Lobos coach Amadeo Escandon told the cheering fans.
The Lobos have advanced to the UIL state tournament in Georgetown three of the last four seasons and have made it to that level of the playoffs five times overall, the most trips to state by any team in the Rio Grande Vallley.
“This feels great,” said Jose “Chevy” Echavarria, a senior attacking midfielder for the Lobos who scored a pair of goals. “It always feels good to win championships here at Lopez High School.
“It’s because of all the hard work that we’ve put in — my teammates, myself and the coaches — everyone,” he added. “It’s been hard work since Day One. Everything has just gotten us closer and closer to the district title.”
Added teammate Alan Reyes, a junior midfielder, “The first thing we want to do is say we’re grateful for all of the families that have helped and supported us. It’s something beautiful to win district and it’s a great way to start the playoffs.”
The Lobos turned loose an offensive onslaught against the Vikings in the opening half to lead 5-0 at intermission. Pace (5-9, 15 points) scored its two goals in the last 10 minutes to make the final score 5-2. The season is over for the Vikings.
Scoring the first three goals for Lopez were Sebastian Benavides, Reyes and Guadalupe Sauceda in the 11th, 18th and 23rd minutes, respectively. The goals by Benavides and Reyes came from close range after receiving a pass from the outside. Sauceda tallied from about 12 yards out on the left side.
Echavarria made it 4-0 in the 26th minute by dribbling in and firing the ball into the left corner of the goal from point-blank range. He increased the lead to 5-0 by scoring on a low direct kick taken from 20 yards out in the 32nd minute.
Scoring late goals for the Vikings were Eduardo Perez and Ian Perez.
In the girls match, Pace led 1-0 and 2-1 before a penalty kick goal by the Lady Lobos knotted the game 2-2 and sent the contest to 20 minutes of OT.
The Lady Vikings went up 3-2 with two minutes remaining in the second half of OT and finished district with an unbeaten record. The winning goal for Pace came on a penalty kick by Alexis Guajardo after a handball call on the Lopez girls in the penalty area.
The Lady Lobos had stopped an earlier penalty try by the Lady Vikings.
Marcy Garza and Kryssie Rivera scored Pace’s earlier goals. The ones scoring goals for the Lady Lobos were Myrka Garcia and Tiffany Matambu.
The Lady Vikings are scheduled to face Laredo Martin in the first round of the playoffs.
The season is over for the Lady Lobos (6-8, 18 points). For reasons that are not immediately known, head coach Alex Macias hasn’t coached the Lady Lobos the last few games, according to Lopez fans.