Ranger College adds four Cowgirls to soccer team

BROWNSVILLE — Liberty Garza, Keenia Palacios, Brianna Guzman and Margiory Rios were four-year varsity players for the Brownsville Porter girls soccer team.

Now they are off to Ranger College together to continue their career.

Palacios, District 32-5A’s Co-MVP, played in the midfield and was a four-year starter alongside Garza, the district’s player of the year. Guzman was voted the district’s utility player of the year, and Rios received first-team all-district honors.

“I am really grateful for the opportunity that I am getting,” Palacios said. “I just want to make my parents proud.”

The girls helped win three district titles for Porter. The Cowgirls shared the 2020-2021 title with Brownsville Lopez. Rios, Garza and Palacios were the team captains for the 2021-2022 season.

“I always dreamed of going to college, but not playing soccer. I did not think I would make it, so it feels really nice to get to that level,” Garza said. “I am really excited to start playing and show what I can do.”

The four girls are excited to continue playing together.

“I am really excited for that,” Guzman said. “We have been together for a long time already and we plan on studying the same thing, so it should be some good years.”

Rios is the only one of the four who plans on studying something other than nursing. Rios plans to study business. Rios and Guzman played on a stingy Porter defense that only gave up three district goals this season.

“This is like a dream come true,” Rios said. “I have always wanted to play at a higher level and show people what the 956 can do. I am excited to go play, I am ready.”

Porter coach Abraham Gracia hopes the girls will do well at the two-year school in Stephensville and is happy for the opportunity the college is giving to his athletes.

Rios, Garza and Palacios took charge of the team at various points throughout their time at Porter. Now, they are helping the upcoming team during a summer league.

“At the end of the day, this is what they worked for,” Gracia said. “This is a really good group of girls. These girls are all committed. It feels awesome that all of the hard work paid off.”