MISSION — Sharyland High’s Kevin Zepeda hasn’t spent much time on the field with the Rattlers. The senior left winger didn’t make his season debut until Sharyland High’s fifth game.
His impact, however, has been almost instant. During his season debut, Zepeda netted a pair of goals in a rout of Valley View, handing the Tigers their lone loss of the season.
He has added goals in all but one game since, helping Sharyland High’s scoring average bump up from 3.75 goals per game to 4.2.
He continued his brilliance on the pitch Tuesday, netting the first goal of the game and adding an assist on the game’s final score as the Rattlers defeated PSJA Memorial 3-0 at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission.
“I give everything for this team,” Zepeda said. “They’re my family, and I’ll always give them 100%. Whether that is goals or assists or pressuring, I’ll leave it all on the field.”
Zepeda’s offensive outburst has been complemented by the play of forward Edward Morales.
The senior duo combined for 11 goals during the final five games of the first round of district play, with Zepeda scoring six and Morales adding five.
Morales entered Tuesday’s contest with a team-leading eight goals in nine district games, with Zepeda tied for second on the team with six goals in five district appearances. Senior forward Alan Guerrero also has six goals, appearing in nine district games.
“Both guys, unfortunately they’re seniors,” Sharyland High head coach Jorge Guerra said. “Kevin, he is a game-changer at the forward or midfielder position. Same thing for Edward. They’re both very technical and have a high IQ of the game. It really helps to have them both.”
After Zepeda’s goal to open the contest, Morales added his mark to the game during the 57th minute. The senior delivered a booming shot on a direct kick from 33 yards, placing the ball into the top left corner just past the goalkeeper’s mitts to make it 2-0.
“At first, I was looking to cross it to my center back,” Morales said. “I saw the space wasn’t there. I took a good look and thought to myself, ‘Why not?’ We were up 1-0, so what was the worst that could happen? I hit that ball pretty good and it went right where I wanted.”
Marco Ramos put the final nail in the coffin during the 76th minute, tapping in the final goal on a crossing pass from Zepeda off a corner kick.
The victory marks a way different result from the team’s first meeting, with PSJA Memorial taking the first contest in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in regulation.
“This district is none like past year,” Guerra said. “It is very tough. Picking up three points tonight, it is like gold. This PSJA Memorial team is very aggressive, hard-working and high rate. Getting these three points is big. The attitude from the kids was different this time. They had that hunger. We made some changes in our starting 11 and the way we did things, and it showed.”
McALLEN HIGH 3, McALLEN ROWE 1
At McAllen, Leo Salinas scored twice and Vicente Alvarez added one as the Bulldogs opened the second round of district play with a win.
Alvarez, the Valley’s leading scorer entering Tuesday, made it nine of 10 district games with a score, only held scoreless during last week’s game against Valley View.
He brings his season total to 17 goals in 10 district appearances.
DISTRICT 31-6A
MISSION HIGH 5, EDINBURG ECONOMEDES 3
At Mission, the Eagles handed the Jaguars their first district loss of the season while picking up their first district win of the year as well.
Mission High held off a barrage of second-half goals by the Jaguars to hold on for the win, outscoring Edinburg Economedes 4-3 during the final period.
Chris Molina played a big role in the win, recording a hat trick, with Jonathan Reynaga and Daniel Escamilla adding one goal each.
DISTRICT 32-6A
BROWNSVILLE RIVERA 3, HARLINGEN HIGH 2
At Harlingen, the Raiders kept their perfect district record intact, holding off Harlingen High’s second-half comeback attempt to improve to 4-0-0.
The Raiders jumped out to a 2-1 lead at the break, with goals by Cesar Garza and Efrain Garcia. Garza, the district’s leading scorer, moves to six goals in four district games.
Diego Macias added a goal during the second half to secure the team’s victory.
The Raiders close out the first round of district play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at home against the second-place Brownsville Hanna Eagles (3-1-0).
