GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
CORPUS CHRISTI — Entering the Region IV-5A semifinals, Sharyland Pioneer had allowed just two goals in regulation all season. On Friday, Vandegrift found the back of the net three times in less than 14 minutes.
The Lady Vipers scored three early goals, all off corner kicks, and went on to cruise past the Lady Diamondbacks 5-0 at Cabaniss Field.
“When you go up against a team that has that type of speed, that type of skill and is able to maneuver around you on a wide field like this, we’re not used to it,” Pioneer coach J.J. Lopez said. “They certainly looked a lot more comfortable than we did.”
Vandegrift is the defending regional champion, looking to make another run after reaching the state final last season. The Lady Vipers have outscored their four playoff opponents by a combined 13-0 and haven’t allowed a goal since Feb. 5, according to Maxpreps.
Sophomore Andrea Reyes said Vandegrift was a difficult matchup for Pioneer both physically and in terms of skill.
“Height and speed, and I think they just knew the game better,” Reyes said. “They knew how to connect passes. They were a great team. We tried our very best.”
Vandegrift’s Grace Erdman created the team’s first three scores off corner kicks at 38:30, 28:02 and 26:08 of the first half. Her first two tries found the back of the net without any help, and her third was touched home by Lauren Brideau.
The Lady Vipers extended the lead to 4-0 with 3:01 to play in the first half, as Sarah Mahosky scored on another set piece from the outside. Vandegrift only stretched its advantage as the game went on, with Savannah Andres tallying with 28:52 to play.
For the game, Vandegrift outshot Pioneer 14-1. Reyes — the Lady Diamondbacks’ leading scorer — and the rest of the offense never found space to operate.
“Everywhere I looked, they were there,” Reyes said. “We tried our best to formulate passes and some combinations. We tried to come out as much as we could.”
Pioneer’s season ends in the same manner it did last year: in the regional semifinals at the hands of Vandegrift. The Lady Rattlers lost to the Lady Vipers 1-0 last year during Pioneer’s inaugural season.
“We definitely worked hard to get back here,” senior Julie Alanis said. “We wanted to go further. We pushed every day in practice. We kept our heads up, and kept a positive outlook every day. So that was good.”
Alanis hopes the team can follow her example next season, even as she graduates along with fellow senior starters Stephanie Barrientos, Taylor Marquez, Pricilla Alanis and Hannah Padilla.
Reyes said she expected the returning players to grow even closer and ease the transition for the new starters.
“I’m not going to say it’s going to be a rebuilding year,” Lopez said, “but certainly we need to get some pieces of the puzzle back in there and move some people around to try to be competitive again next year.”
SUGHED: Sharyland Pioneer overwhelmed by Vandegrift in regional semifinal loss
BY GREG LUCA
STAFF WRITER
Entering the Region IV-5A semifinals, Sharyland Pioneer had allowed just two goals in regulation all season. On Friday, Vandegrift found the back of the net three times in less than 14 minutes.
The Lady Vipers scored three early goals, all off corner kicks, and went on to cruise past the Lady Diamondbacks 5-0 at Cabaniss Field.
“When you go up against a team that has that type of speed, that type of skill and is able to maneuver around you on a wide field like this, we’re not used to it,” Pioneer coach J.J. Lopez said. “They certainly looked a lot more comfortable than we did.”
Vandegrift is the defending regional champion, looking to make another run after reaching the state final last season. The Lady Vipers have outscored their four playoff opponents by a combined 13-0 and haven’t allowed a goal since Feb. 5, according to Maxpreps.
Sophomore Andrea Reyes said Vandegrift was a difficult matchup for Pioneer both physically and in terms of skill.
“Height and speed, and I think they just knew the game better,” Reyes said. “They knew how to connect passes. They were a great team. We tried our very best.”
Vandegrift’s Grace Erdman created the team’s first three scores off corner kicks at 38:30, 28:02 and 26:08 of the first half. Her first two tries found the back of the net without any help, and her third was touched home by Lauren Brideau.
The Lady Vipers extended the lead to 4-0 with 3:01 to play in the first half, as Sarah Mahosky scored on another set piece from the outside. Vandegrift only stretched its advantage as the game went on, with Savannah Andres tallying with 28:52 to play.
For the game, Vandegrift outshot Pioneer 14-1. Reyes — the Lady Diamondbacks’ leading scorer — and the rest of the offense never found space to operate.
“Everywhere I looked, they were there,” Reyes said. “We tried our best to formulate passes and some combinations. We tried to come out as much as we could.”
Pioneer’s season ends in the same manner it did last year: in the regional semifinals at the hands of Vandegrift. The Lady Rattlers lost to the Lady Vipers 1-0 last year during Pioneer’s inaugural season.
“We definitely worked hard to get back here,” senior Julie Alanis said. “We wanted to go further. We pushed every day in practice. We kept our heads up, and kept a positive outlook every day. So that was good.”
Alanis hopes the team can follow her example next season, even as she graduates along with fellow senior starters Stephanie Barrientos, Taylor Marquez, Pricilla Alanis and Hannah Padilla.
Reyes said she expected the returning players to grow even closer and ease the transition for the new starters.
“I’m not going to say it’s going to be a rebuilding year,” Lopez said, “but certainly we need to get some pieces of the puzzle back in there and move some people around to try to be competitive again next year.”