By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
Alexis Guajardo of Pace is comfortable playing just about any position on the soccer field.
“I don’t believe she’s played goalkeeper, but she’s played all the other positions and done well,” Lady Vikings coach Jesus O. Villarreal said.
Guajardo, a junior whose primary position is attacking midfielder, is The Brownsville Herald’s Girls Soccer All-Metro Utility Player of the Year.
This season, she helped the Lady Vikings win District 32-5A with a 14-0 record and advance three rounds in the Class 5A playoffs before they ended the season with a 28-2-1 overall mark. It was the best record in the history of the girls soccer program at Pace and matched the team’s best showing of going three rounds in the playoffs, which was first done in 2017.
“I’ve been working hard, and actually, all of us on this team have been working hard,” said Guajardo, who recently was named a first-team all-district selection at forward. “I wouldn’t have gotten awards without the help of my team. I feel really honored. It took a lot of hard work to get to the point that we wanted to go this season.
“I play wherever they need me because it’s all for the team, of course,” she added. “Whatever I can do to help us win, I’m willing to do. I’ve always tried to do what’s best for the team.
“I’m just excited and happy with how well we did this season.”
Villarreal is grateful for Guajardo’s contribution and he’s looking forward to great things from her during her senior season. The Lady Viking coach estimates she has scored 65 goals so far during her three-year varsity career. She was the All-Metro Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 2016.
“Alexis has a lot of dedication to the game and a lot of power (in her leg),” Villarreal said. “Every time we play, she goes all out and she has this explosion (in her shot). She has the speed to move the ball right or left and when she takes her shot, it’s an explosion and it’s one of her keys (to success).”
Guajardo has a specific goal in mind for the Lady Vikings in 2019.
“Going into next season as a senior, I want us to finally make it to the regional tournament,” she said. “We’ve made it to the third round the past two years and we want to go farther.
“I know we can,” she added. “We have the girls, we have the talent and we can do it. It’s just a matter of putting in the hard work in the preseason and making sure everything falls into place. I’m proud of everyone on our team and I’m ready for us to do it.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess