Soccer Notebook: Shootouts galore in 32-5A girls competition

The tight race in District 32-5A girls soccer is evident by the number of shootouts the teams are experiencing so early in conference play.

Of the 12 district games played thus far, six have been decided by a shootout and another in overtime. Brownsville schools Rivera and Lopez have each gone to a shootout in all three of their 32-5A matches. Rivera has won two of them and Lopez one.

"It’s going to be a very competitive district race, that I know," Lopez girls coach Alex Macias said. "These shootouts just make it a little more difficult. Every team in 32-5A is pretty tough. There’s no dominant team over the others right now. Our girls are working hard, and they’re probably going to be pretty tired by the end of the season playing 100 minutes in these games. Just about every school is doing the same thing. We’re proud of our girls."

In its most recent match, Lopez was edged 1-0 in a shootout at Los Fresnos on Tuesday. The Lady Falcons were coming off a 2-1 shootout loss on Jan. 29 at Rivera.

"It’s a lot of pressure, but I know I can count on my teammates (for support)," said Los Fresnos goalkeeper Irma Quintanilla, who denied all four Lopez shooters on Tuesday while two of her teammates tallied shootout goals to lift the Lady Falcons to victory. "When you’re in a shootout once, the experience helps you for the next time.

"I’m pretty sure we’re going to have some more of them," she added.

COLLEGE SIGNINGS

There were at least two confirmed college soccer signings earlier this week in the Rio Grande Valley.

Harlingen South’s Maddie Reyes and McAllen High’s Megan Ochoa signed with Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.

If the number of Valley soccer signings in recent years is any indication, there should be quite a few more to come. South Texas has become fertile ground for college soccer recruiters.

Reyes, a center midfielder this season, is a four-year starter who is the only senior in South’s lineup.

"Maddie is a smart player who was our best defender the past three years prior to moving to the midfield this season," South coach Omar Pedroza said. "As the only senior starter on a very young team, her leadership skills have been very helpful. I’m happy that she is getting a chance to play on the college level."

Concerning Ochoa’s abilities, McHi coach Pat Arney said, "Meg’s a great leader, someone who leads by example. She plays with a lot of heart and desire, and she has a real love of the game. She’s a natural finisher — probably the best I’ve had here at McHi. As of now, she’s scored 101 goals in her (high school) career. She’s got a great shot and can shoot with both legs. She shoots well off the dribble and on a dead ball. She’s also very good in the air and is very difficult to get off the ball, which she turns into assists. She’s really the complete forward."

Pedroza said injured South forward Sarah Flores is expected to sign with Incarnate Word University of San Antonio today.

ANOTHER KEY 30-5A MATCH

McAllen High’s 4-3 win at Sharyland on Tuesday was an important match in the District 30-5A girls race. Another key 30-5A game is on tap at 6 tonight as McAllen Rowe plays McAllen Memorial at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Memorial is tied with McHi for the 30-5A lead at 3-0. Rowe is close behind at 2-1. Robyn McNallen leads the Lady Mustangs, while Stephanie Rodriguez is a key performer for the Lady Warriors.

Rowe coach Barbara Torres-Garza believes her team can control the midfield and make things happen.

"I have always believed that the team that controls the middle of the pitch will come out on top," she said. "That is where all the magic happens and plays are created. It will be a good game Friday, and I am hoping we can come away with another ‘W.’"

TAPPS PLAYOFFS

Brownsville St. Joseph has captured its first TAPPS district title in soccer and will play host to Grapevine Faith Christian School at 10 a.m. Saturday in the first round of the TAPPS playoffs. The Bloodhounds won their district with a 2-0-2 record.

Standout players for St. Joseph include goalkeeper Ruben Preciado, defender Alberto Villarreal and midfielders Claudio Vallejo and Daniel Gutierrez. The team is coached by Mario A. Zamora.

Roy Hess writes for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him via e-mail at rhess@brownsvilleherald.com.

TOP 10 POLLS

Boys

1. Brownsville Lopez

2. Sharyland

3. Edinburg Economedes

4. Brownsville Porter

5. Brownsville Hanna

6. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln

7. Brownsville Rivera

8. Los Fresnos

9. Edinburg North

10. PSJA High

Girls

1. McAllen High

2. Sharyland

3. Harlingen South

4. McAllen Rowe

5. McAllen Memorial

6. Mission High

7. Brownsville Pace

8. La Joya Palmview

9. Edinburg High

10. Harlingen High

STANDINGS 

BOYS

District 30-5A

W L T Pts

Sharyland 3 0 0 9

La Joya High 2 1 0 7

Donna 2 1 0 6

La Joya Palmview 2 1 0 6

McAllen High 2 1 0 5

McAllen Memorial 1 2 0 3

Rio Grande City 0 3 0 0

McAllen Rowe 0 3 0 0

District 31-5A

W L T Pts

Economedes 3 0 0 8

Edinburg North 2 1 0 7

PSJA High 2 1 0 6

PSJA Memorial 2 1 0 5

Harlingen High 1 2 0 4

PSJA North 1 2 0 3

Edinburg High 1 2 0 3

Harlingen South 0 3 0 0

District 32-5A

W L T Pts

Brownsville Lopez 3 0 0 9

Brownsville Hanna 2 1 0 6

Brownsville Porter 2 1 0 6

Brownsville Pace 2 1 0 6

Brownsville Rivera 2 1 0 6

Los Fresnos 1 2 0 3

San Benito 0 3 0 0

Weslaco High 0 3 0 0

District 61-4A

W L T Pts

Mission Veterans 0 0 0 0

Mission High 0 0 0 0

Hidalgo 0 0 0 0

LJ Juarez-Lincoln 0 0 0 0

Roma 0 0 0 0

Valley View 0 0 0 0

District 63-4A

W L T Pts

Edcouch-Elsa 3 0 0 9

Weslaco East 2 0 1 7

Mercedes 2 1 0 6

Progreso 1 1 1 4

Port Isabel 0 2 0 0

La Feria 0 2 0 0

Raymondville 0 2 0 0

GIRLS

District 30-5A

W L T Pts

McAllen Memorial 3 0 0 9

McAllen High 3 0 0 9

McAllen Rowe 2 1 0 7

La Joya Palmview 2 1 0 6

Sharyland 2 1 0 5

Donna 0 3 0 0

Rio Grande City 0 3 0 0

La Joya High 0 3 0 0

District 31-5A

W L T Pts

Edinburg High 3 0 0 9

Harlingen South 3 0 0 9

Edinburg North 2 1 0 6

Harlingen High 2 1 0 6

Economedes 1 2 0 3

PSJA North 1 2 0 3

PSJA Memorial 0 3 0 0

PSJA High 0 3 0 0

District 32-5A

W L T Pts

Brownsville Pace 3 0 0 8

San Benito 2 1 0 7

Los Fresnos 2 1 0 6

Brownsville Rivera 2 1 0 5

Brownsville Hanna 2 1 0 5

Brownsville Lopez 1 2 0 4

Brownsville Porter 0 3 0 1

Weslaco High 0 3 0 0

District 61-4A

W L T Pts

Mission Veterans 0 0 0 0

Mission High 0 0 0 0

LJ Juarez-Lincoln 0 0 0 0

Valley View 0 0 0 0

Roma 0 0 0 0

Hidalgo 0 0 0 0

District 63-4A

W L T Pts

Edcouch-Elsa 3 0 0 9

Weslaco East 3 0 0 9

Mercedes 2 1 0 6

La Feria 1 1 0 3

Lyford 0 2 0 0

Raymondville 0 2 0 0

Progreso 0 3 0 0