BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
After a dramatic exchange of goals in the final five minutes sent McAllen Memorial and Del Rio to overtime, Natalie Young scored with about 4 minutes remaining to lift the Mustangs to a 3-2 win on Tuesday in Laredo.
“It was just a real intense game,” McAllen Memorial coach Matthew Kaiser said. “There were moments where we thought we had it wrapped up and then let them back in the game.”
Memorial took a 2-1 lead when Leslie Santana scored with 4 minutes remaining in regulation after the ball ricocheted off the post. But, less than 2 minutes later, Del Rio answered to force overtime.
There, Connie Avila controlled a throw-in in the box and dropped a pass back to Natalie Young, who scored on a one-touch shot.
Memorial held on to secure the win.
“Everybody was so tired,” Kaiser said. “There were smiles on their faces, but we had just played our longest game of the season. I was so proud of the girls for the effort.”
Cameron Alaniz also scored for Memorial, tallying in the first half.
Memorial will next face San Antonio Reagan at 3 p.m. Friday at Brownsville Sports Park.
CLASS 5A
SHARYLAND HIGH 3, VICTORIA WEST 0: At Corpus Christi, Sharyland High needed only a little time to get settled in before cruising by Victoria West.
Vanessa Guevara opened the scoring about 25 minutes into the game on a shot off the post from about 25 yards out on the left wing. About 10 minutes later Kaitie Watson received a long pass and drove it home.
Isabella Marinaro scored the capper from 10 yards out with about 15 minutes to play.
“We were pretty dominant,” coach Aaron Clemons said. “The first half, they probably had one or two shots. And the second half they took one.”
Clemons said Sharyland got off to a slow start, adjusting to playing on grass rather than turf.
Sharyland advances to play Cedar Park at 4:30 p.m. on Friday in Corpus Christi.
BOYS
CLASS 4A
GRULLA 4, PLEASANTON 1: At Kingsville, Grulla picked up a dominating win against Pleasanton to continue the school’s first playoff run.
“Being this far is historic for us,” coach Angel Ortiz said. “Our soccer team motto is, ‘History in the making,’ and these guys are really taking it seriously. They consider themselves a team of brothers. It’s been historic, and we’re sticking to our motto.”
Grulla scored about 15 minutes in and never relinquished the lead, going up 4-0 before Pleasanton scored with about 10 minutes to play.
Miguel Flores, Ivan Castill, Victor Gaytan and Gerry Roldan all tallied for the Gators.
Grulla will face Liberty Hill at 6 p.m. Friday at Sharyland High.
HIDALGO 3, PROGRESO 1: At Mission, Hidalgo scored first and held on to beat Progreso.
Progreso coach Margarito Jimenez said a pair of defensive changes “backfired” on the team, allowing Hidalgo to take a 2-0 lead. Heriberto Gomez scored before half to draw Progreso within 2-1.
Hidalgo coach Zeke Morales could not be reached for comment.
Hidalgo advances to face Fredericksburg at 4 p.m. Friday at Sharyland High.