BY MARK MOLINA,STAFF WRITER
The 2017 soccer season has been a special one as the Rivera Lady Raiders rebounded from an 0-14 District 32-6A season last year to an eight-win playoff team.
And it’s not over yet.
Led by second-half goals from junior Ashley Torres and sophomore Alyssa Ayala, the Lady Raiders upset the Edinburg Economedes Lady Jaguars 3-1 in Class 6A bi-district action Friday night at Sam’s Stadium.
“It’s definitely a big change from last year,” said first-year Rivera head coach Peter Rodriguez. “The girls have worked really hard. I emphasize hard work, but they do it on their own. They wake up every morning, they stay after school and they want to do more — obviously it was up to them to do well.”
The win sends the Lady Raiders to the area round of the playoffs, while the Lady Jaguars will head home after going 24-4-2 on the season. That included a 14-0 showing in District 31-6A.
Torres put in what proved to be the winning goal for the Lady Raiders in the 12th minute of the second half when she controlled the ball from midfield and eventually got off a shot from the left side with several defenders right on her back.
The shot rolled into the bottom right part of the net to give Rivera a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.
It was a moment the junior said she would not soon forget.
“I couldn’t (control it), my emotion was so big and my heart was pounding I got so nervous,” Torres said. “When I saw it go in — what can I say? It was beautiful and no words could explain it.”
The Economedes offense had it’s moments, but the Rivera defense proved to be too much in the second half.
“(Rivera) defense was excellent,” Economedes head coach Roberto Garcia. “I think they played a very good defensive game and did what they were supposed to. They earned the victory — they really did. We were undefeated in our (district) season and we knew we had a tough game because whoever is on this side will always be a tough match.
“Things didn’t go our way tonight and that happens that’s the way the soccer ball rolls.”
Rivera got on the board with less than 12 minutes into the game when sophomore Myrka Guevara found herself free of defenders on the left side of the box and found the back of the net moments later to put her team up 1-0.
Economedes answered minutes after with a goal from Ayssa Ozuna that sailed over Rivera goalie Daisy Cano and into the upper right end of the net.
Both Economedes and Rivera had opportunities to add goals, but instead went into the half tied.
The Lady Jaguars challenged the Lady Raider side of the field early in the second half, but missed on a header in close and a corner kick attempt.
Minutes later, Torres put the Lady Raiders up for good and unlike the first half, the Lady Jaguars would have no answer.
“My girls know how to play defensively and they made some switches,” Rodriguez said of his team’s defense. “They play their part defensively. We played the first half and didn’t know what to expect
Ayala added an insurance goal with just under three minutes to play, getting off a shot on the right side as she started to fall to the ground surrounded by defenders to make it 3-1.