Same story, different year

As there has been for a while in the Rio Grande Valley, the same group of programs asserted themselves as the best in the area. Sharyland went undefeated in District 30-5A. Rival McAllen High, despite not quite matching its postseason success from 2007,had another fine season, eventually losing a memorable 2-1 area-round game to Harlingen South.

Those Lady Hawks dominated District 31-5A, going undefeated in league play and eventually making another trip to San Antonio.

They were joined near the Alamo, however, by coach Danny Valdez's Edinburg North Lady Cougars, a team that had never had made it to the regional semifinals. For that accomplishment, Valdez has been named The Monitor's Valley Coach of the Year.

"We had been so close before. I mean it's just an honor to get up there and represent the Valley and to do as well as we did," Valdez said of a team that went 12-2 in district play. "Every year we set our goals to get out of the Valley. This has been going back 11 years ago when we first started the program, and I knew this year was going to be the year."

Harlingen South, Edinburg North's main rival and the team it lost to twice during the regular season, had only one senior on its entire roster. While Pat Torres is graduating and heading off to college, younger sister Claudia, also a midfielder, will still be around to play against the Lady Cougars. Claudia, who scored 10 times and added 10 more assists for the Lady Hawks in 2008 is the Valley's Newcomer of the Year.

Perhaps appropriately, when Pat got injured during the Lady Hawks' regional semifinal against San Antonio Reagan, Claudia picked up the slack. She drew the penalty which led to the Lady Hawks' only goal, one that tied the game at 1.

"She did an awesome job. She took on those defenders, got in the penalty area and they had to foul her," Harlingen South coach Omar Pedroza said. "She took over as a freshman, and if she keeps improving and she keeps playing with the rest of the guys, she could be something very good."

The same could be said for McAllen High sophomore Megan Ochoa, the Valley's Offensive Player of the Year. Ochoa scored an impressive 38 goals in 2008, helping the Lady Bulldogs make up for the graduation of 2007 Valley MVP Sarah Stansell.

McHi coach Patrick Arney was effusive in praise of his star scorer, a player who could have scored even more if she played every minute of every game.

"I think she's got great determination and she's quite skillful. She's physical with the ball, she uses her body well and she's got a lot of different weapons," Arney said. "She can shoot with both feet, she's very good in the air, and she reads the game very well.

"For her to have 38 goals and a couple shootout goals, it's incredible."

Ochoa isn't the only record-setting player in District 30-5A, though. A player that Arney and Ochoa should be familiar with is Sharyland goalkeeper Jordan Romero, the Valley Defensive Player of the Year. Romero ended her high school career with 81 shutouts, a total that is believed to be a national record.

The record of more importance to her team, though, was its undefeated mark in district play. Coach J.J. Lopez gave his goalkeeper much of the credit.

"We're able to start the offensive attack from way back. We can use three defenders instead of four or five," Lopez said. "She gave us the confidence that we're still going to be able to take care of business and not allow too many goals."

Brian Sandalow covers high school soccer for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436.