By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Life’s pretty good for the Del Rio Rams soccer team.
The team is unbeaten in District 30-6A and stands atop the standings after four matches. Add to that a group of top 10 goal scorers, including the district’s leading scorer in Alfita Peñaloza, No. 8 scorer Josue Fernandez and co-No. 10 scorers Cesar Piña and Adrian Salazar, and it becomes clear why in the eyes of one longtime local soccer expert that Del Rio could have not just one, but two district champions in soccer this year, citing the success of the Queens as well.
Del Rio’s run began Feb. 10 with a 4-3 win over the visiting Laredo LBJ Wolves. Fernandez had a pair of goals, including one off an Esteban Saucedo assist, and Peñaloza had the first two of his seven district goals, both coming off penalty kicks.
Then on Valentine’s Day, the Rams played the role of heartbreakers when they stopped the Laredo United South Panthers, 3-0.
Peñaloza again led the way, notching the hat trick with three goals scored, but it was goalkeeper Brandon Hernandez who made the goals stand as he earned the shutout and a clean sheet.
On Feb. 18, the Rams welcomed the Laredo United Longhorns to Walter Levermann Ram Stadium for a midday showdown. The sun stayed out of sight and the cold and windy weather made it tough for both teams.
With the wind to their backs in the first half, Del Rio was able to take advantage as Piña scored off an assist from Fernandez. United tied the match and the score was 1-1 at halftime.
The wind hit the Rams in the face in the second half, forcing Del Rio to stick to ground passes as attempts at big kicks through the air resulted in the ball just being knocked to the ground.
Less than seven minutes into the second half, the Rams reclaimed the lead as Peñaloza took the feed from Hernandez and buried the shot past the United goalkeeper for a 2-1 Del Rio lead.
Nearly 20 minutes later United was able to take advantage of Hernandez being out of position and found a wide open left side of the net to score the equalizer and make the scored 2-2.
But just minutes later it was the Rams striking again with Peñaloza scoring his second goal of the match, this time off a timely pass from Salazar, to put Del Rio back on top, 3-2.
Hector Trujillo iced the game for the Rams, scoring late off an assist from Esteban Saucedo to make the final score 4-2 in favor of Del Rio.
On Feb. 21, the Rams were back home, taking on their biggest district rivals from Laredo Alexander. It’s been Alexander that’s knocked the Rams out of the playoffs in the third round in each of the past two years. If Tuesday’s nail-biter is any indication of what’s to come in the playoffs this year, expect another meeting between these two teams.
The Rams and Bulldogs finished regulation tied at 1-1. Salazar scored the only goal for the Rams in regulation, helping Del Rio earn at least one point in the process. A win in the shootout to follow would give the Rams another point and keep them atop the district standings.
It took two rounds of shooters, but Del Rio would prevail 7-6 thanks in large part to Hernandez’s big saves when it counted most.
Peñaloza, Joshua Renteria, Saucedo, Trujillo, Adrian Ramos, Salazar and Fernandez scored in the shootout for the Rams.
Del Rio will close out the first half of district play Feb. 24 when they travel to Eagle Pass to face the winless Eagles. A win would move the Rams within striking distance of a return to the playoffs.
Del Rio leads the district standings with 11 points (3 wins, 1 draw and 1 shootout win). LBJ is second with 8 points (2 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss) followed by Alexander with 7 points (2 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss) and United with 6 points (1 win, 2 draws, 1 loss). Teams are awarded 3 points for each win, 1 point for each draw and an additional point for a shootout win.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
