Valley's best to take the field in Weslaco

WESLACO - For one night, some of the best soccer players in the area will be on the same field.

The Rio Grande Valley Soccer Coaches Organization is holding the East and West All-Star Games tonight at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco. The girls game starts at 6 p.m. and the boys will follow at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate and will cost $4 for adults and $2 for kids.

Valley View coach Jesus Ochoa, whose team won the District 32-4A crown, said the game means more than just another chance for some of the Valley's top players to show off.

"It's very important for (the players) because hopefully some coaches from colleges will come," said Ochoa, who along with McAllen High coach Fernando Segovia will lead the boys West team. "They can show their skills and see if they deserve to play in college."

Among the boys players expected to compete are Valley View's Omar Mena, Weslaco East's Jorge Marquez and Harlingen High's David Bazan. Girls players include Sharyland goalkeeper Jordan Romero, Mission High forward Lupita Hinojosa and McHi midfielder Rebekah Valenta.

"It means a lot for me to be nominated to coach the West," said Segovia, who will coach against David Castro from Weslaco East and Harlingen High's Bobby Lucio. "It's an honor to have these players play for you."

The girls coaches who will have that honor are the West's Sharyland's J.J. Lopez and Mission Veterans Memorial's Mario Ribera. The East is expected to be lead by San Benito's Xochitl Clark and Weslaco East's Adriel Marinez. Those four coaches won four of the five Valley district crowns, with Clark's San Benito team taking the 32-5A title, Martinez and Weslaco East winning 32-4A, Ribera and Mission Veterans winning 31-4A and Lopez' Lady Rattlers finishing first in 30-5A.

The quality of competition, combined with regional rivalries, should make both games more competitive than the standard All-Star game.

"The West side, they always have a little something to try to show up the East, especially the ones from Brownsville," Ochoa said. "It is competitive. I know they are going to come to win, the East, and we of course would like to win. It's going to be a good game."

Brian Sandalow covers high school soccer for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436. For this and more local stories, visit www.rgvsports.com.