By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Kryssie Rivera reached a milestone last week in her soccer career.
The Pace senior scored her 100th career goal in the first half of Friday’s 5-0 District 32-5A victory at Mercedes.
Rivera netted No. 100 during the 27th minute when she scored from the left side about 25 yards away. It was her second goal of the match and it increased the score to 4-0 for the Lady Vikings as they stayed tied for the 32-5A lead with Donna North. Each team now has a 3-0 district record.
The Lady Vikings play the Lady Chiefs tonight at 5:30 in Donna in a match that could eventually decide the 32-5A championship.
Rivera described scoring her 100th goal as an exhilarating experience.
“For a start, it felt awesome,” she said. “I had been thinking about it.”
“I feel that I’ve come such a long way since my freshman year when I only scored nine goals,” added Rivera, who now has tallied 29 goals this season. “I’ve scored so many my senior year, and it’s just the beginning.”
UIL girls soccer came to the Rio Grande Valley in 1997. Since then, it is believed only one other Brownsville female has reached 100 career goals in varsity competition. That girl is Yesenia Ortiz, who graduated from Rivera in 2016.
Ortiz finished her high school career with 147 goals.
Pace’s standout senior scorer appreciates all the support she’s received from her teammates, her coaches and especially her mother, Rosario Rivera.
It’s been a group effort, she said.
“(In particular) I’d like to thank my teammates,” Rivera said. “I wouldn’t be here (celebrating my 100th goal) without them. Getting to 100 actually gives me a boost of confidence for what is ahead of us. We have the playoffs and then hopefully regionals and state.
“I hope I get to score a lot more goals and contribute to my team,” she added. “We have some very good competition in our district and I’m just looking forward to that.”
Jesus O. Villarreal has coached Rivera since she was a freshman for the Lady Vikings.
“It means a lot (to see her reach 100 goals),” Villarreal said. “There are a lot of (emotional) feelings (involved). I’ve seen Kryssie play throughout her four years and I know how hard she works, how focused she is and the sacrifices she’s made, so yes, there are a lot of feelings.
“I’m happy for her and I’m happy for the whole team,” Villarreal added. “It’s not just what she accomplished. The entire team wanted this for her. They all know how difficult it is and they all are happy for her just as I am. We’re doing very well this season and I’m happy for the whole team.
“Kryssie’s healthy this year, and that’s the most important thing. Having her in the lineup and playing (injury free) is a big plus.”
As the Lady Vikings continue 32-5A action, Rivera’s journey in soccer continues as well.
“My teammates, my coaches and my mother have really supported me a lot the past four years throughout this (soccer) journey,” Rivera said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better team.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess