By Rey Sifuentes Jr.
Headed into its game against Laredo United on Friday, Eagle Pass High School’s varsity girls soccer team was 1-2 in its first three District 29-5A games.
The Lady Eagles lost to Laredo LBJ 7-1 on Tuesday, February 12.
“The game started out well for us as we kept the ball on their side of the field for the first 20-25 minutes,” Head Coach Hugo Garcia said. “Marcy Mares was able to chip the ball over LBJ’s defense which Jenell Perez picked up before fighting off two defenders and then rocketed a shot which scored to give us a 1-0 lead.”
EPHS stayed persistent in its attack.
“Mares continued to pressure LBJ, while Nataly Ramirez and Vero Riojas continued pushing the ball up,” Garcia said. “Karen Herrera was able to do her thing on the outside.
With a minute left before halftime, LBJ scored and both teams went into the intermission tied 1-1.
“We came out strong during the first seven minutes of the second half,” Garcia said. “But then the wheels came off as LBJ was able to score six unanswered goals and earned a well deserved win.”
Eagle Pass was blanked by Laredo United South 3-0 on Friday, February 8. Garcia said that his team’s concentration was an issue.
“It was a nice day to play but we didn't start focused and turned over the ball deep on our own side and that led to United South scoring its first goal,” Garcia said. “Then we fouled them deep on our side and they cashed in a direct kick to score again and take a 2-0 lead during the first eight minutes of the game.”
The Lady Eagles then clamped down defensively. Garcia made a few adjustments before halftime - putting Nataly Ramirez back on defense. Cecy Contreras and Vero Riojas got some things going in the middle of the field.
United South would score once more later on through another direct kick.
Eagle Pass won its first conference match on Tuesday (February 5), getting past Laredo Alexander 5-3.
Scoring goals for the Lady Eagles were Marcy Mares, Jenell Perez, Nataly Ramirez, Karen Herrera, and Mirella Hernandez.
The Lady Eagles varsity and junior varsity soccer teams are OPEN on Tuesday. Both teams host Del Rio at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
