EDINBURG — The Edinburg Economedes Jaguars sit on top of the District 31-6A mountain after a convincing 4-0 win over Edinburg High on the road Tuesday night.
The win solidified Econ’s grip at the top of the district, improving the Jaguars to 5-0-2 and 18 points with three matches remaining. Edinburg High falls to 4-2-1 with 14 points.
Econ scored once in the first half with the strong wind at its back, then scored three times into the wind, tearing up the right side of Edinburg’s defense and scoring from that side of the field each time.
“I told the girls that with their defense they have gaps out there, so when we have the outside we crossed it,” Econ first-year head coach Kristie Jarquin said. “We knew this would be a physical game and they might be verbal, so the key was to play the game we play.”
Jacqueline Maldonado scored the game’s first two goals, ripping a one-time shot on a line drive with 7:31 remaining in the first half. Maldonado took the ball out of mid-air, then fired it for the lead.
“We take a lot of time during practice with crosses in the air and on the ground, trying to prepare for the unpredictable,” Jarquin said. “You don’t always get a perfect pass.”
Maldonado used her speed to score the second goal, screaming up the sideline, cutting in and letting a shot go from a wide angle that was dead on target with 32:59 remaining during the second half. Maldonado leads District 31-6A with eight goals during district play.
That goal took a lot of momentum from a Bobcats squad that was beaten by Econ’s speed and physicality. Stephanie Moreno scored to make it 3-0, also attacking the outside at the 22:32 mark. She added the Jaguars’ fourth goal, her second, with less than eight minutes remaining.
“This was definitely a big win, and we needed that to have a little bit of space (in the standings),” Jarquin said. “But we’re not going to let up and we’re going to finish strong as if we are in last place.”
Joselin Maldonado, Jacqueline’s sister, wasn’t pressured much throughout the game but made some impressive saves as Edinburg took shots up high to no avail.
“She comes from volleyball, and I told her if she can set it high in front of the net she’d be good,” Jarquin said. “She reads the ball well and she has been an amazing keeper.”
Econ has allowed just three goals in district play.
Econ has remaining games against Mission High and La Joya High at home before its regular-season finale at Edinburg North.