By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
In three matches against Edinburg schools this year in non-district play, the San Benito Varsity Soccer Team has lost twice – both on Tuesday, including last week when the Greyhounds fell to the Economedes Jaguars, 1-0, and to Edinburg, 4-3.
To the ’Hounds’ credit, however, the loss to the Jaguars this week was the first time this season they didn’t score, and they were shut out in 11 outings.
SBHS players are part of a team accustomed to scoring, and when they last played an Edinburg team, the North Cougars, they trounced them 4-3 at Bobby Morrow Stadium.
So far this season, San Benito is 6-3-2 overall and is on pace to advance to the postseason again if the win-loss ratio carries over into district play.
Ironically, SBHS lost to an Edinburg school in the bi-district last year despite scoring many goals.
The ‘Hounds are looking to get a win streak going, but have not as of late.
They began the season with a three-game winning streak, defeating IDEA Robindale (9-1), Brownsville Pace (3-0), and Laredo United (4-2).
To their credit once more, San Benito has lost only one consecutive match, and that loss came against Edinburg.
SBHS sandwiched ties between losses. In that stretch from Jan. 3-20, the team lost to La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (3-2), beat Donna (8-0), tied Weslaco (3-3), beat North, tied La Joya (2-2), and beat PSJA (6-2).
The ’Hounds will open District 32-6A play on Feb. 6 at Brownsville Hanna.
So far, five players have played in all 11 matches.
Senior Jiovanni Najera is one of those players and leads the team in goals with 18, followed by Everardo Escobedo with eight. Francisco Barrientos has seven goals in nine matches.
Assist leaders are Najera and Barrientos, with six each, followed by Mares and D Gonzalez, with five each.
The other players who have appeared in all of their team’s matches are William Montoya, Bryan Mares, Escobedo, and Bentley Zavala.
This year’s starting goaltenders are Montoya (31 saves), who has started in all 11 matches, and Mauro Trejo (one), who has started four times.
San Benito is coached by William Huerta, assisted by Carlos Zuniga, Robert Mendoza, and Everardo Sanchez Huerta.