By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
The Pace Lady Vikings’ journey through the 2018 soccer season has been marked by success.
Last month, the team completed a 14-0 run to its first District 32-5A championship since 2009.
Now the Pace girls, 28-1-1 overall, have reached the third round of the Class 5A state playoffs for the second straight year.
It’s simply a good time to be a Lady Viking.
“We know how to play together and we’ve just gotten stronger together,” said Alexis Guajardo, a junior forward/midfielder for the Pace girls.
“This (playoff run) feels special,” Guajardo added. “Not a lot of the Brownsville girls teams go this far in the playoffs and we just want to prove that the Valley can play with the best of them.”
Next up for the Lady Vikings is a 5A regional quarterfinal match against District 30-5A runner-up Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial at 7 p.m. today at Brownsville Sports Park. The winner advances to next week’s Region IV-5A Tournament in Corpus Christi.
“This season has a lot of value to me and to the girls,” said Lady Vikings coach Jesus O. Villarreal, who is assisted by Efrain Lopez, Jorge Hernandez and Luis Lopez. “Personally, I am seeing that things are changing (for the better) throughout the Pace athletic program, not just for soccer.
“Our girls have sacrificed so much (to get where they are),” Villarreal added. “We have suffered from some (season-ending) injuries last year and this year. The sacrifice being made by the ones we have left playing has given us value.
“Nothing stops these girls. When something negative happens, they just turn it into a positive situation. They don’t let their guard down, even when we’re suffering (injuries). That’s why this season has a lot of value. And it didn’t start just this season. It’s due to the work done over several years now.”
The nucleus of starters for the Lady Vikings includes goalkeeper Jazul Amaya, defenders Yadira Dominguez and Jovana Rodriguez, midfielders Alma Perez, Belia Suarez and Lesley Amador plus forward Kryssie Rivera and Guajardo.
Those players who also see considerable action include defenders Michelle Abundis and Vanessa Lara along with forward Vianca Sandoval and midfielder Jillianeey Perez.
Among the players sidelined by injury are midfielders Marcy Garza and Ari Garcia, defender Kenia Galvan and goalkeeper Jen Oliveira.
“We have a lot of teamwork and commitment on this team,” said Perez, a senior center midfielder. “Hopefully we can make it to regionals. We’ve never made it that far, so that’s definitely our goal. We just want to go further (in the playoffs) than we’ve gone before.”
The Lady Vikings opened the playoffs with a 2-0 bi-district victory against Laredo Martin on March 29 in Corpus Christi before downing Flour Bluff 4-1 Tuesday at Raymondville in the area round of the postseason.
“Overall, I believe we have put in the hard work,” said Rivera, also a senior who earlier this season topped 100 goals for her Pace career. “The players have made it to all the practices and I don’t think any one of us has given up on this team at all. We believe we can make it far. I couldn’t ask for a better team.
“I think right now we just need to keep up our mental attitude (of playing to win) and be patient (for our scoring opportunities), ”Rivera added. “We need to stay relaxed and take it game by game. Hopefully things will turn out the way we want them to.
“I would just like to thank our fans for traveling to see us play.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess