By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The UIL soccer season is a journey beginning in January and lasting well into March, and for some, even into April.
For a few fortunate teams, it’s smooth sailing all the way into the playoffs. And yet for many squads, it’s more like a roller coaster ride with its share of ups and downs.
Regardless of whatever might happen earlier in the season, all teams want to be peaking and playing their best soccer when it counts the most towards the end.
That’s where the Pace Lady Vikings find themselves. Trying to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2011, they have experienced some highs and lows so far this season.
Still, they seem convinced they have the team to reach the postseason in 2015.
“If we keep the right attitude, and being confident, but not overconfident, we just want to keep going and see what happens,” said Pace senior stopper Ashley Galvan, a three-year starter and team co-captain. “We’re all hoping to make the playoffs.
“We’re giving our school hope,” she added. “We hadn’t won too many games in the past few years, so we’re doing it for our school, and for each other as well because we haven’t experienced the playoffs. We really haven’t done much (winning) since my freshman year. Now we have a chance to do something, and we’re trying to take advantage of it because we have a good team this year.”
The Lady Vikings opened the season with some success at the La Feria Tournament before inclement weather canceled it one day early. Pace then had a subpar showing at the Brownsville ISD Tournament before bouncing back to start District 32-5A with a 4-0 record.
Now, after suffering their first district loss, a 3-0 setback Tuesday at Donna North, the Lady Vikings (4-1, 12 points) are determined to bounce back again at home at 6 p.m. Friday against Edcouch-Elsa (4-1, 10 points).
“This year, you see smiles on the field (by our girls),” said junior attacking midfielder Jo Ann Sanchez, a two-year starter and also a team co-captain. “The attitude has changed. It’s not just one player, it’s everyone.
“The way we’ve been going, it’s looking pretty good for us,” Sanchez added. “We have a strong midfield, a strong defense and a strong offense plus a strong goalkeeper, so I’d say it’s looking good for us as long as we stay committed and everyone keeps their heads in the game. These girls are focused on the team and they’re giving it their all. On the field, they’re not thinking about anything but soccer, not their boyfriends, not what they’re going to do when they get home or anything else.”
One of the newcomers making an impact for the Lady Vikings on the offensive end is freshman forward Kryssie Rivera, who leads the team with six goals in district and nine on the season.
“It’s really awesome playing with this team,” Rivera said. “The connection we have with each other is fantastic. It’s not about one player, it’s about everybody. We’re working together as a team. I think our chances of making it to the playoffs are 100 percent. This team is amazing, and I feel we’re going to do it.
“I’m very proud of my team for getting this far and for communicating on and off the field,” she added. “If someone gets hurt we’re all there for each other, so I feel we can go far.”
The Lady Vikings enjoyed a period of success under coach Valentin Mata as they advanced to the playoffs four straight seasons, 2008 through 2011, and captured a 32-5A championship in 2009.
The challenge for second-year coach Jesus O. Villarreal is to guide Pace back to that level of winning. So far, the Lady Vikings appear headed in the right direction.
“There’s been a lot of improvement, especially with their teamwork,” Villarreal said of his players. “You can see it in the girls’ behavior, their attitude and their motivation. It began last year, and this year it’s just exploded. These girls are blossoming. That’s basically it. The things that we planted last year are blooming now.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.