By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
It’s time for the Del Rio Queens soccer team to make its push towards the soccer playoffs.
The Queens will open district play Saturday at Laredo versus the LBJ Lady Wolves. The match is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Laredo’s Student Activity Complex.
Del Rio has played well in its non-district schedule.
The Queens went 1-2 in the Steele/Clemens tournament in the early part of January.
Del Rio lost 9-0 to San Antonio Johnson to open the tournament.
“It took us a while to find a rhythm but we never gave up and kept fighting. We were able to create some opportunities, but came up short to score. Johnson is a very good team,” Queens head coach Wilber Rivas said.
In Del Rio’s second tournament game, the Queens lost to LEE, 3-1. Jadyn Casillas had Del Rio’s lone goal off an assist from Kayla Celedon.
“It was a better showing for the Queens. We played much better and created many opportunities on goal,” Rivas said. “We had two mistakes in the beginning that we could not overcome. We lost the first half, 3-0, but won the second half 1-0. We were motivated due to how well we played in that second half, and we carried that momentum into Saturday.”
Del Rio closed out the tournament with a 3-1 win over East Central.
Monika Gonzalez scored a goal off a free kick, and Casillas had a pair of goals off assists from Cassandra Ochoa.
“It was a great game for the Queens. We dominated and kept the tempo in our favor. Our passing lanes were better and defensively we played a better game,” Rivas said.
Del Rio kept the wins coming with a 3-0 shutout of Laredo Martin.
“We started making runs and had opportunities in the first half, but we could not finish on goal. It wasn’t until Andrea Sauceda dribbled to her right and was able to take a defender one-on-one then took a center shot to Jadyn Casillas who scored on a header,” Rivas said.
“We made some adjustments in the second half and were able to create more opportunities on goal,” Rivas said.
Casillas set up the Queens’ second goal of the match on a long pass from the middle. She took the shot, but it was blocked by Martin. The ball went to Giselle Castaneda who took the rebound and scored for a 2-0 lead.
Casillas also set up the third goal as she took the corner kick and directed it towards Ochoa, who found the net with a header for the 3-0 final score.
The Queens next took part in the NEISD Women’s Showcase in San Antonio.
Del Rio earned a win against MacArthur, shutting them out 3-0. Cassandra Morales, Celedon and Alondra Sanchez all had goals for the Queens.
The Queens’ final non-district win came against San Antonio Cornerstone as Del Rio earned a 5-0 victory. Casillas scored off a penalty kick, Ochoa earned a goal off an assist from Sanchez, Celedon scored a goal, Sanchez scored a goal off a penalty kick and Kaylee notched a goal of her own to account for Del Rio’s scoring.
Del Rio’s next home match will be Tuesday, Feb. 8 when they host the Laredo United Lady Longhorns at 6:30 p.m at Walter Levermann Ram Stadium.
The Queens’ remaining home schedule includes Tuesday, Feb. 15 versus Laredo Alexander Lady Bulldogs at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 22 versus Eagle Pass Lady Eagles at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 1 versus Laredo LBJ Lady Wolves at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 8 versus Laredo Nixon Lady Mustangs at 6:30 p.m., and Tuesday, March 15 versus Laredo United South Lady Panthers at 6:30 p.m.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
