District 31-5A is arguably the strongest girls soccer district in the Rio Grande Valley and, maybe in South Texas.
According to the latest Texas Girls Coaches Association, it could be one of the strongest in the state.
The latest poll has two teams from District 31-5A ranked in the top 5. Sharyland High (6-0) comes in at No. 3 in the state in Class 5A, while perennial power McAllen High (4-0) is ranked No. 5.
Both tops in their respective districts last season, the two squads are now in the same district, along with other teams ranked at some point last year, such as McAllen Rowe and McAllen Memorial. Add the highly competitive Sharyland Pioneer and District 31-5A is setting with at least five teams battling for four playoff spots.
Sharyland High head coach Mario Ribera, in his fourth year at the helm, has his Rattlers out and running, outscoring its first six non-district opponents 35-3, and pitching four shutouts. Senior Xochitil, coming off a 68-goal performance last year, has 13 already this season and 141 for her career.
“It’s always an honor to have a team ranked and I’m very surprised to find out where we are ranked,” Ribera said. “The girls work hard and this pumps them up.”
Sharyland High will host McHi on Feb. 9 and then the Bullodogs will host the Rattlers on March 5.
“This is one of the toughest district south of from San Antonio south. It’s very competitive,” Ribera said. “You’ve got the three McAllen schools — and, of course, McHi is always a powerhouse that has good players from different clubs. But we feel our team will stand up to that level. I haven’t seen them play yet, but I think we can hang with them.”
Last season was blindsided by the non-discriminant beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Most teams had just finished their district schedule or had, at most, one match remaining before a preseason that never happened.
This year, several matches have already been rescheduled, but after a year of dealing with the virus under their belts, coaches are feeling better about getting through the schedule.
“I’m pretty sure we can complete the season,” McHi head coach Patrick Arney said. “With what we’ve learned and with the vaccine coming out, we’re ready.”
The Bulldogs graduated three players who went on to play major Division I soccer this season. Still, they have begun the new campaign essentially where they left off, winning all four matches including 6-0 against Los Fresnos and 8-0 against Corpus Christi King in the McAllen ISD Girls Soccer Tournament.
Dallas Highland Park is the top-ranked team in Class 5A, according to the TGCA, while Dripping Springs is No. 2. Magnolia is sandwiched between Sharyland and McHi at No.4.
La Feria is the other ranked team in the poll, coming in at No. 6 in Class 4A.