ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Another Bird Bowl in soccer is on tap Friday.
This time, the matchups for the boys at 5:30 p.m. and girls at 7:30 p.m. will be played at the Harlingen High Mini-Stadium.
When the Harlingen High and Harlingen South squads last met in the first round of District 32-6A on Feb. 12 at the South Mini-Stadium, the Hawks won 2-1 and the Lady Cardinals were victorious by the same score.
Victories in the 32-6A races for boys and girls have never been more in demand. Add in the city rivalry aspect of things, and it figures to be quite a night of showdowns that should live up to Harlingen’s competitive Bird Bowl tradition in all sports.
When asked about the boys match, Cardinals coach Johnny Guillen said, “We have to find a way to get three points (for a win). That is what will keep us in the playoff race.”
The Cardinals are trying to break out of a five-game slump. They came up just short at Los Fresnos on Tuesday, falling in penalty kicks 4-3, but still picking up one point.
The South boys were tied for the 32-6A lead last week with Brownsville Rivera, but have lost twice since then, including a 1-0 setback at home against Rivera on Tuesday.
So the Hawks are eager to win, too.
“Bird Bowl is a great rivalry game and is never easy since the players grew up playing together (in youth leagues),” South coach Julian Robles said. “We have to stay focused before the game and during the game to win this one. There is so much to play for and emotions will be running high.
“Coach Guillen has done a great job at Harlingen High,” Robles added. “I expect his team to be ready for us.”
On the girls side, the Lady Hawks have won four straight district games since losing 2-1 to the Lady Cardinals on Feb. 12. The highlight of that winning streak was a 1-0 victory at district-leading Los Fresnos on Feb. 26.
The Lady Cardinals are trying to break out of a two-game losing streak that came after they won three straight in 32-6A action. Those setbacks came against Brownsville Hanna (2-1) last Friday and against Los Fresnos (4-1) on Tuesday.
Counting Friday’s matches only two dates remain on the 32-6A schedule.
32-6A UPDATE
Here are the latest District 32-6A boys standings: Brownsville Rivera (6-2, 18 points), San Benito (5-3, 14 points), Brownsville Hanna (4-4, 14 points), Harlingen South (4-4, 12 points), Los Fresnos (3-5, seven points) and Harlingen High (2-6, seven points).
Here are the most recent 32-6A girls standings: Los Fresnos (7-1, 20 points), Harlingen South (6-2, 19 points), Hanna (5-2, 15 points), Harlingen High (4-4, 12 points), Rivera (1-6, three points) and San Benito (0-8, no points).
SPRING BREAK
District 32-6A will be open next week for Spring Break except for a 32-6A makeup game at 10 a.m. Monday at Hanna between the Lady Golden Eagles and Rivera Lady Raiders. The game was postponed when the Lady Raiders were involved in a bus accident going to Hanna to play on Feb. 26.
After next week, only one date remains, Tuesday, March 19, for district games in 32-6A.