Sharyland High remained No. 2 and McAllen High No. 4 in the most recent Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 5A statewide poll released Monday.
Despite a 5-3 loss to city rival Donna North, a Class 6A school, Donna High (5-1-1) moved up seven spots to No. 18 and holds a 5-1-1 record according to the poll.
McAllen Rowe, No. 14 in last week’s poll in Class 5A, and Harlingen South, No. 23 in Class 6A, both dropped out of the poll.
The Rattlers (10-0-0) have rolled this season behind an offense led by senior Xochitl Nguma, Sharyland High’s all-time leading goal scorer, breaking Katie Watson’s mark of 146 career goals last week. Sharyland defeated Valley View 8-1 in the District 31-5A season opener for both schools. Nguma scored three goals and the Rattlers scored six times during the second half after leading 2-1 at the break. Sharyland faces another perennial power at 6 tonight at McAllen Memorial. The Mustangs are 3-2 overall but also won their district opener, 5-1, over PSJA Memorial behind freshman Madisyn Sosa’s three goals.
McHi (9-0-0) traveled across town Saturday to face city rival Rowe. The Bulldogs ran out to a 3-0 lead and claimed a 4-1 victory. Freshman Savannah Ruiz scored twice, closing out two corner kicks from senior Melanie Salinas. The Bulldogs play at home against Sharyland Pioneer, another team expected to be in the playoff hunt, at 6 tonight.
The No. 4 Bulldogs and No. 2 Rattlers will face off for the first time this season at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9. The two will are also scheduled to battle the final week of the regular season, at 6 p.m. March 5 at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Donna High opens District 32-5A at 7:15 tonight at home against Brownsville Lopez. Madalyn Park leads the Donna offense. The junior striker has scored multiple goals in each of the Bravettes’ matches this season.
Dallas Highland Park (3-0-0) remained No. 1 in the Class 5A poll and Magnolia High (9-0-0) sat at No. 3, sandwiched by the two District 31-5A squads.
Team records in this story are based on the TGCA poll.