Houston Dynamo FC, Portland Timbers battle to scoreless draw

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2022, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 16, 2022) Playing a man down for the final 15 minutes, Houston Dynamo FC battled the Portland Timbers for ninety minutes, plus 11 minutes of added time, to a scoreless draw in front of 13,650 fans at PNC Stadium on Saturday evening.

The first half saw Houston take control of the pitch, with eight shots as opposed to three by the Timbers. The "Boys in Orange" were unable to find the back of the goal due to some good goalkeeping by Portland's Aljaz Ivacic, along with some aggressive defensive play by the Timbers. Many of the black and orange clad fans in the stands thought there should have been a few additional yellow cards issued, but the officials on the pitch thought otherwise, leading to an unscored tie at halftime.

The Timbers receive two yellow cards in the first half; the first in the 16th minute to midfielder Cristhian Paredes and the second to Sebastian Blanco in the 27th minute. Dynamo defender Teenage Hadebe was also carded in the 27th minute for a foul.

The second half saw the aggressive play continue with more yellow cards being shown. Hadeebe received his second yellow card, which resulted in a red card, and his removal from the game in the 76th minute. He took out Yimmi Chara on the counterattack and was shown the second yellow (red) card by the official. Portland received two additional yellow cards in the second half. They were shown to captain Diego Chara in the 49th minute and defender Bill Tulloma in the 81st minute.

Dynamo head coach Paulo Nagamur talked about the match in the postgame press conference.

“Yeah, difficult game considering everything that happened throughout the 90-plus minutes. I think we played a very good team, Portland, we knew they were going to bring a different challenge considering what happened in the game with the red card. You know the game for the last 15 minutes, I think we could say that we are happy with the point. Definitely created enough chances in the first half to go ahead in the game and to end the game. Unfortunately, we couldn’t finish those but, again, pleased that we have points. Pleased with the fight of the group playing a man down, so just going to turn the page and go for the next one.”

The Dynamo had 14 shots for the game, as opposed to 11 by Portland. The Timbers led in corner kicks 12-4.

The draw give the Dynamo a 3-4-1 (W-D-L) record with 13 points after eight games. Portland increases their point total to 11, with a 2-5-2 record.

Next up for Houston and their MLS schedule is a Saturday, April 23 matchup against longtime rival FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Earlier in the week, the Dynamo will face Rio Grande Valley FC on Tuesday, April 19 at BBVA Stadium in the U.S. Open Cup.

Garin, Isner advance at U.S. Clay Court Championships

Photo by Darla Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2022
All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 8, 2022) Friday action at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship saw four quarterfinal singles and two semifinal doubles matches at Houston's River Oaks Country Club.

Kicking off the day was the first doubles match, on Court 3, found Serbians Ivan Sabanov and Matej Sabanov facing Americans William Blumberg and Max Schnur. After a very intense, which propelled the winners to the final on Saturday evening, the duo from Serbia were victorious by the score of 6-3, 7-5.

In singles action, American and No. 3 seed Reilly Opeika needed only 78 minutes to down Gijs Brouwer (Netherlands) by the score of 6-3, 7-5. Next up was a scheduled match between Michael Mmoh (USA) and Nick Kyrgios (Australia). Kyrgios advanced to semi-final, where he will face Opeika, as a result of a walkover, when Mmoh withdrew from the tournament due to an injury. Saturday's semifinal will be the first for Opeika at River Oaks.

In the third match of the day, which lasted two hours, 43 minutes, Chile's Cristian Garin needed three sets to dispatch American Taylor Fitz by the score of 6-2, 6(5)-7, 6-3 to advance to the semifinals, Garin will take on John Isner (USA, shown above), who needed three sets to advance to the semifinals, in defeating  fellow American Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

In the final match of the evening, Australians Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell  defeated Pablo Cuevas (Uruguay) and Hunter Reese (USA) 6-4, 6-3.

Houston Dash gains come-from-behind win over Racing Louisville FC

Rachel Daly with the Challenge Cup
trophy from 2022.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY (March 26, 2022) The Houston Dash raised their NWSL Challenge Cup record to 1-1-0 after downing the Racing Louisville FC by the score of 3-2 at Lynn Family Stadium.

Louisville scored first, in the 16th minute when Kirsten Davis right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Twenty-four minutes laster, they added their second goal when Jessica McDonald right-footer the ball past Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell to give Louisville a 2-0 lead at the half.

In the second half, the Dash came storming back with two goals within two minutes of each other. Maria Sanchez scores in the 56th minute. Marisa Viggiano added the second Dash goal two minutes later to even the score.

The third Houston goal came from a penalty kick by captain Rachel Daly as a result of Louisville's Addisyn Merrick being charged with a hand ball inside the penalty area.

The loss dropped Louisville to 0-1-1. Houston will next face the Kansas City Current (1-0-1) on Wednesday, March 30, with a 7 p.m. CT start at PNC Stadium in Houston.

Houston Dash drop opening game of 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup to Chicago Red Stars

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 20, 2022) The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup defending champion Houston Dash took to the pitch at PNC Stadium against the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday afternoon in the 2022 edition of the Challenge Cup. After ninety minutes-plus of intense play, the Dash fell to the Red Stars by the score of 3-1.

Defender Katie Naughton (Strongsville, Ohio) scored the first goal of the match in the 18th minute. The Norte Dame alumni right-footed the ball to the bottom right corner, past  goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Bridgeport, Connecticut) to put the Dash up 1-0. The Red Stars responded eight minutes later when forward Mallory Pugh (Littleton, Colorado) right-footed the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal, from the center of the box, to even the score in the 26th minute. After spirited play for the remainder of the first half, the score remained tied at one at the half.

Naughton stated in the post-game press conference:

"I think for the first half we came out pretty strong, I think we were trying to find some pockets of space and play and build out of the back. Maybe stretch their line, I think it came off quite a few times which is good and exciting. I think in the second half some calls maybe didn't go our way and that is something we need to work on and bounce back from those adversities that we’re going face throughout the year. And honestly, I do think we were in their line for the first 20 or 25 minutes. We just have to be more clinical in the final third and finish off chances we create. Obviously, it is not the result we want but it is the first game of the Challenge Cup. It is a good litmus test to see what we need to work on and what we can build off." 

After 12 minutes of play in the second half, Dash defender Sophie Schmidt (Abbotsford, British Colombia, Canada) committed a foul in the penalty area, giving the Red Stars a penalty kick. Defender Arin Wright (Lexington, Kentucky) converted the penalty with a successful lick to the bottom left corner, to give Chicago a 2-1 lead in the 58th minute.

The Red Stars added a third goal two minutes later when Pugh shot from outside the box and found the top right corner of the goal, on a pass from midfielder Danielle Colaprico (Freehold, New Jersey). After many attempts by the Dash to overcome the Chicago lead, the game ended with the 3-1 loss for Houston.

The Dash will face Racing Louisville FC on Friday, March 25 at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville before returning home on Wednesday, March 30 for a 7 p.m. matchup against the Kansas City Current.

Late goal gives Houston Dynamo FC a draw against Colorado Rapids

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly 

Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 19, 2022) Houston Dynamo FC trailed the Colorado Rapids after their score late in the first half,  but a late goal with one minute
remaining in regulation tied the score at 1-1 at PNC Stadium. The draw to enabled Dynamo to earn one victory point in their final home match of March.

The Rapids got on the scoreboard in the 42nd minute when midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye punched in the ball past goalkeeper Steve Clark, off a corner kick. 

Houston tallied four shots and four corner kicks in the first half, while the Rapids had five shots to go along with their four corner kicks.

In the 37nd minute, Houston attacker Fafa Picault when down on the pitch, causing medical personal to rush onto the pitch to check him out. After a few minutes, he was on his feet and continued in the game.

Colorado retained their one goal lead until the 89th minute. The Dynamo took possession of the ball, which allowed Memo Rodriguez started a run and aptly passed the ball to Tyler Pasher (shown above, No. 19). The Canadian approached the top of the box and drove the ball past goalkeeper William Yarbrough to score the equalizer. 

Houston had 12 shots and 11 corner kicks in the match, while the Rapids tallied six shots and five corner kicks.

The Dynamo will hit the road to face Miami on April 2 at DRV PNK Stadium. The will return the PNC Stadium on April 9 to host San Jose on College Night.

HBU Huskies to face Toledo Rockets in first round of WNIT

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

AKRON, OHIO (March 18, 2022) The HBU Huskies women's basketball team will face the Toledo Rockets at 6 p.m. CT at Akron's Savage Arena in the first round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). The Huskies were the Southland Conference regular season champions and had an early exit from the conference tournament to eventual champions Incarnate Word Lady Cardinals, dropping their semifinal game 54-33.

The Huskies were 16-10 for the 2022 season with a 12-2 conference record and will be facing a 26-5 Toledo team who was 19-1 in conference play before going 1-1 in the Mid-America Conference tournament. They dropped a 71-66 decision to Ball State. The WNIT first round match-up will be the first meeting between the two squads and the first NCAA post-season appearance for the Huskies. 

The Huskies are led by Southland Conference Player of the Year Timia Jefferson who averaged 12.7 points per game for the season. She was aided by N'Denasija Collins, who averaged 9.4 points per game while pulling in 6.4 rebounds and shooting 35 percent from the field. Marilyn Nzoiwu pulled down 7.4 rebounds per game to lead HBU. Abbey Sutherland is tied with Nzoiwu for the team lead in blocks with 32.

Toledo was led this season by Quenesha Lockett who averaged 17.5 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Rockets. Sophia Wiard drops in 12.8 points per game for Toledo and leads the rockets in assists with 137.

The game can be viewed on ESPN3.

HBU falls to UTSA in college baseball action

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 15, 2022) The HBU Huskies scored four runs in the fourth inning, but they were not enough to overcome a late UTSA surge and dropped a 10-5 decision to the Roadrunners at Husky Field on Tuesday.

The Huskies were paced by shortstop Diego Davila who went went 4-for-5 with two RBI along with leftfielder Connor Fremin walked, was hit by a pitch and scored twice. Junior catcher Parker Edwards was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and scored a run.

 
Daniel Garza (1-0) earned the win, shutting the Huskies out on two hits with four strikeout and no walks over the final three innings.
 
Flores' two-run homer put UTSA ahead 3-1 in the third.
 
HBU rallied for four runs in the fifth, including Edwards giving the Huskies the lead with an RBI single and senior rightfielder Lane Botkin getting hit by a pitch with the bases load for a 5-3 lead.
 
UTSA took advantage of five walks in the seventh, scoring on a sacrifice fly and a bases loaded free pass to tie it, 5-5. Poston then delivered a two-run, go-ahead single in the eighth and Bailey added a two-run triple in the ninth.
 
HBU returns to action when it travels to face Michigan State in a three-game series Friday through Sunday in East Lansing.

HBU downs UIW in first round of Southland Conference tournament

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly 

Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

KATY, TEXAS (March 9, 2022) The No. 5 seeded HBU Huskies advanced to the second round of the 2022 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament with a 74-64 win over the Incarnate Word Cardinals at the Leonard E. Merrell Center.

The Huskies, who raised their season record 11-17, shot 59% from the field and was paced by Khristion Courseault, who put up 19 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the field. Fellow starters Darious Lee, Sam Hofman, and Brycen Long also tallied double digits, with Lee adding 17 points, while Hofman and Long adding 11 each. Lee also recorded his sixth double-double of the season; pulling down 10 rebounds. Hofman also has 10 RBs, earning his second double-double of the season.

The number 8 seeded Cardinals had four players scoring in double digits. Drew Lutz led the way with 18 points, followed by Josh Morgan (17), RJ Glasper (12), and Brandon Swaby (10). UIW shot 41% from the field, 93% from the line, and 36% from the arc.

HBU pulled out to its largest lead of the game, 13 points, with 3:17 remaining in the game. The Cardinals were able to cut the Husky lead, but it was not enough, with HBU winning by 10. The Huskies also led the game with the lead (22:22), points in the paint, 46-22, second chance points (8-2), fast break points (8-5) and bench points (8-7). 

Incarnate Word finished the season with a 7-25 record in their last game in the Southland Conference, Next season, they will be joining the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). 

With the victory, HBU advanced to the second round of the tournament on Friday, March 10 where they will face the winner of McNeese State Cowboys vs. Northwestern State Demons matchup.

Tennessee downs Oklahoma 8-0 at Minute Maid Park

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 6, 2022) Number six ranked Tennessee completed their three-game series at the Shirners Children's College Classic  inside Minute Maid Park in Houston with an 8-0 win over Oklahoma. The Voluneers (10-1) went 2-1 in the tournament, dropping their first game of the season by the score of 7-2 to the No. 1 Texas Longhorns on Friday evening (March 4). On Saturday, they downed the Baylor Bears by the score of 10-5.

Tennessee was paced by designated hitter Christian Moore, who was 3-for-4 at the plate, with two runs and three RBI. He was assisted by left fielder Seth Stephenson, who went 2-for-2 with one RBI. For the Sooners, center fielder Tanner Tredaway tallied two hits from four at bats. 

The Volunteers used five pitchers in the victory, with starter Drew Beam getting the win. He completed five innings while giving up only two hits in facing 17 batters. The win pushed his season record to 2-0.

Starting pitcher Chazz Martinez receive the loss for the Sooners, with 3.2 innings of work. He gave up five runs, all of them earned, on five hits while facing 20 batters.

Next on tap for the Volunteers with be a Tuesday, March 8 matchup against James Madison. Oklahoma, who went 0-3 at Minute Maid Park, will face Dallas Baptist on Tuesday.

The box score from the game can be accessed by clicking here.

HBU downs Prairie View A&M 9-1 in softball action

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 5, 2022) The HBU Huskies downed Prairie View A&M by the score of 9-1 in a shortened run-rule game at Husky Softball Field on Saturday. 

The Huskies started their scoring run in the first inning when Jasie Roberts tripled, sending two runners home, to give HBU a 2-0 lead. The score would remain at 2-0 until the fifth inning when the Huskies tallied RBIs from Baylee Chanmdler, Riley Martin, Justice Palmer, and Sarah Venker to push the score to 7-0. The Panthers scored a single run in the sixth inning, while HBU added two runs off a Martin triple to complete scoring.

The win pushed the Huskies to 9-7 while the loss dropped the Panthers to 0-17. HBU will finish the series on Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. CT first pitch against Brown.

Lubbock three-peets in winning girls UIL 5A state title.

Photo by
Darla S.Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

By Robert Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

AUSTIN, TEXAS (February 19, 2022) The Lubbock Westerners girls swimming and diving team successfully defended their UIL swimming and diving 5A title in winning the 2022 state championships at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin.

Not only did the Westerners defend their stated title, they made it a three-peet in winning the 2020 championships, winning by the score of 163 points over second place Prosper Rock Hill (144.5 points).

Almost half of Lubbock's points came from the relays. In winning in 200-yard medley relay with the time of 1:46.80, the Westerners tallied 40 points, along with 34 points for taking the silver medal in the 400-yard freestyle relay.  The foursome of Ellis Fox (back), Emma Brady (breast), Scatlett McCloud (fly), and Amrita Ramesh (free). combined to take the top honors in the medley relay. In the free relay, Kennedi Classen, who swam the second leg, combined with Fox, McCloud, and Brady, who filled the first, third, and anchor legs, respectively.

In the individual events, Fox led the charged, ascending the medal platform twice, taking the silver medal in both the 100-yard butterfly (:54.61) and the 100-yard backstroke (:55.18).

Brady also earned a trip to the medal stand with her silver medal performance in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:03.52). The senior also placed seventh in the 200-yard individual medley.

In one-meter diving competition, senior Alyssa Britt (shown above) place fifth with the score of 403.15 points. In addition, McCloud added to Lubbock’s point total with a ninth place finished in the 200-yard freestyle (1:55.29) and 14^th in the 500-yard freestyle (5:16.49).

Second place finisher Prosper Rock Hill had Jenna Kerkman earn medals in the 50-yard freestyle (third) along with Kiara Xanthos; third in the 100-yard breaststroke. Their relays all scored in the top eight, with the 200-yard medley relay placing fourth, 200-yard freestyle relay finishing sixth, and the 400-yard freestyle taking fifth.

Rounding out the team scoring in the 5A girls division was Friendswood in third place with 138 points, followed by Boerne Champion (121), Lamar Fulshear (118), and Magnolia (108).

Texas Longhorns Janae Jefferson names to National Team

Photo courtesy of
USA Softball and
University if Texas
 Sports Communications

By Chris Price
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

AUSTIN, TEXAS (January 8, 2022) Texas Longhorns softball player Janae Jefferson has been name to the USA Softball National Team that will compete in The World Games in July, 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama.

This past fall, during the Longhorns' fall season, she went 16-for-24 (.667) at the plate with five doubles, seven RBI, and one homerun. She has been named All-American three times and is the program career leader with a .431 batting average 270 hits.

During the 22021 season, she led the squad in batting (.446), hits (75), OBP (.495), and stolen bases (14). In addition, she was second in runs scores (49), third in total bases (100), and fifth in slugging (.595).

HBU falls to New Orleans 81-65 in Southland Conference Tip-Off

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

KATY, TEXAS (January 7, 2021) Despite a strong comeback in the second half, the HBU Huskies dropped their second-round game in the Southland Conference Tip-Off Event by the score of 81-65 to the New Orleans Privateers.

The game, which is e Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy, Texas saw the Huskies (4-7) shot 36% from the field, which was lower than their 42% prior to the match. Four Huskies
scored double figures; with Darius Lee leading the way with 18 points, followed by Zion Tordoff and Brycen Long (shown above) with 12 each. Rounding out the double-digit scorers was Khristion Courseault with 11. Lee also tallied eight rebounds.

The Privateers led the majority of the game with 38 minutes, 52 seconds of possession with three players scoring double figures; Derek St. Hilaire (17), Daniel Sackley (13), and Troy Green with 12. 

Next up for HBU is a 11 a.m. CT on Saturday (January 8) meeting with the loser of the Incarnate Word vs. Northwestern State, with the New Orleans facing the winner at 1:30 p.m. CT.

UAB Blazers score upset win over Brigham Young in Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2021
All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA (December 18, 2021) In a back-and-forth game where both teams were basically even in most stats categories, the University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers upset the No. 13 ranked Brigham Young University Cougars by the score of 31-28 at the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The Blazers jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a 10-yard pass from Dylan Hopkins to Gerrit Price and a 64-yard run by DeWayne McBride. BYU evened the score in the second quarter with two rushing touchdowns, the first a one yard run by Tyler Allgeier and the second, a two-yard run by Sampson Nacua.

Beginning in the second half, the teams traded scores until the 6:17 mark of the second half when Hopkins connected with Trea Shropshire on a 14-yard pass for the final score for the game. Hopkins completed 19-of-23 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns. McBride carried the ball 28 times for 183 yards and one touchdown. Hopkins stated:

“I feel awesome. The past few days I have been really throwing well and it’s just another day we have to come out and execute, we’re playing a really good team. BYU is 10-2 for a reason. We just came out and played for these seniors. We knew that those were the guys that brought the program back, so that’s what we have been talking about this week, let’s finish it out for them, they’re the main reason we’re even here. I am super proud of both sides of the ball, it was a big team effort."

For the Cougars, Allgeier rushed for 192 yards on 27 carries and three TDs while Parker Romney completed 15 passes on 23 attempts for 195 yards. Defensively, Max Tooley tallied 10 tackles, six of them solos, while Blazers' lineman Antonio Moultre had nine tackles with four of them a loss.

UAB head coach Bill Clark stated after the game on n how big of a moment this win is for the program in terms of football games/on if it’s the biggest win for the program:

“It's one of [the biggest wins in program history]. You know, it’s definitely one of. I think championships are huge. I put it right there with him. You know, and I think when I will go back to the game against El Paso, you know, we had the heartbreaking loss. We break it down on champs every day. And I will say you set yourself up for some things that can happen when it doesn't go your way. We had sickness that week, we fought our way through it to get to get that win to get ready for this one. And then you know, we gave a little time off and they respond in the right way you know. I know I'm always talking to coaches what you know, is there something we could do different? Is there something we can do better? And I kept saying it over and over and there's nothing I would change and you know, I'm big on the preparation and our mindset and I just you know, like I said we were treated great all week long. Getting to hang out with Coach Sitake and BYU I had a lot of respect for them. But I thought our guys were going to play well and I knew they were going to play hard.”

HBU Huskies fall to Oklahoma Sooners, 57-40

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA (November 24, 2021) The HBU Huskies jumped out to a 27-22 lead over the Oklahoma Sooners at halftime but were unable to retain the lead in the second half and as a result, dropped a 57-40 decision at the Lloyd Noble Center.

The Huskies shot 57% in the first half but could manage only 5-of-27 (18%) in the second. That, in addition to the Sooners shooing 44% in the last 20 minutes, sealed the loss for HBU.

Starting forward Zion Tordoff tallied 11 points for the Huskies, followed by starting guard Jade Tse with nine points. Darius Lee pulled down eight rebounds with Za-Ontay Boothman recorded two assists. HBU largest lead was at the 2:49 point of the first half, where they recorded a nine point lead (27-18).

Turnovers played a major role in the loss, with the Huskies turning over the ball 21 times to the Sooners. The loss pushed HBU to a 1-4 record, with their only win coming on November 11 at home against Barclay, 122-44.

HBU will play their next four games in the friendly confines of Sharp Gymnasium in Houston, where they will face Southwestern Adventist on November 29, followed by Oral Roberts on December 4. They will take on Champion Christian (December 7), followed by a meeting with crosstown foe Rice on December 11.

Oklahoma, with the win, climbed to 5-1 on the season. They were led by senior Elijah Harkness with 13 points and nine rebounds. He was followed by senior Jordan Goldwire with 11 points.

HBU Huskies drop season finale to Incarnate Word 44-14

Photo by Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 20, 2021) The HBU Huskies scored 14 points in the second quarter, but it was not enough to overcome a 35-0 deficit in the first quarter as they dropped their season finale by the score of 55-14 to the Incarnate Word Cardinals at Husky Stadium in Houston.

The Husky scores both came in the second quarter; the first by Ean Beck (Taylor High School; Katy, Texas). The senior running back carried the ball the final two yards of a 75 yard drive for the first Husky touchdown at the 13:27 mark of the quarter.  The second score came with 7:10 remaining in the half. Sophomore safety Corey Smooth snagged  Cardinal pass and returned it 36 yards for the score. Gino Garcia scored both kicking conversions to secure HBU's final points of the season.

The Huskies finish the season with a 0-11record and will use the upcoming off-season to recover from this season's inquiries and to fill key openings in their roster due to graduation.

With the win, the Cardinals take the Southland Conference title and the automatic qualifying spot to the NCAA FCS playoffs, Incarnate Word will face former Southland Conference member Stephen F Austin at home on Saturday, November 27.

Pasadena Eagles swim team competes in Beaumont Sprint Invitational

By Chris Price

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

\

(Shown left to right in the submitted photo by Darla Kelly, Pasadena ISD; Jael Medrano, Alan Ramirez, Ana Mercado, Jose Estrada, Alexa Montanez) 

BEAUMONT, TEXAS (November 13, 2021) The Pasadena High School Eagles Swimming Team competed in the in the Christopher McClain Beaumont ISD Sprint Invitational at the Beaumont ISD Natatorium on Saturday, November 13. 

Five Eagle swimmers made the trip with all five showing improvement in their times against some of the top  high school swimmers from the southeast Texas area.

Senior Ana Mercado was the top performer for the Eagles, placing ninth in the 100-yard individual medley and 12th in the 100-yard freestyle. Sophomore Alexa Montanez, who is in her second year in the program, finished in 27th place in the 100-yard freestyle and 37th in the 50-yard freestyle. Fellow second-year swimmer Jose Estrada placed 25th in the 100-yard freestyle and 30th in the 50-yard freestyle.

First year swimmers Jael Medrano and Alan Ramirez also competed in the invitational, with Medrano taking 25th in the 50-yard backstroke and 30th in the 100-yard freestyle. Ramirez contributed with a 27th place in the 100-yard freestyle and a 37th finish in the 50-yard freestyle.

Next up for the AquaEagles is the 19-team Texas City Turkey Bowl Swimming and Diving Invitational on November 18-19 at Matthew T Doyle Natatorium in Texas City.

Pasadena Memorial swimming team find success at Beaumont Sprint Invitational

By Chris Price

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

BEAUMONT, TEXAS (November 13, 2021) The Pasadena Memorial High School swimming team travelled to Beaumont on Saturday to compete in the Christopher McClain Beaumont ISD Sprint Invitational. The competition was held at the Beaumont ISD Natatorium and included 17 of the top 5A and 6A teams from the southeast Texas region.

The meet saw four swimmers assent the victory platform in six events in route to a fourth place finished in the girls team standing and seventh in the boys standings. Rachel Del Angel continued her record-setting senior season with two victories; in the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard breaststroke. Freshman Levi Del Angel captured gold in the 100-yard freestyle and silver in the 100-yard butterfly. Also securing top-three finishes were Alexis Rodriguez; third in the 100-yard backstroke and Samara Olvera; third in 200-yard freestyle. Rodriguez also placed ninth in the 100-yard freestyle and with Olvera taking 28th in the 50-yard freestyle. 

Also placing in the meet were Noe Gutierrez (7th in 200-yard freestyle and 13th in the 50-yard freestyle), Mikayla Williams (17th in the 100-yard freestyle and 22nd in the 50-yard freestyle), Cinthea Martinez (18th in the 50-yard backstroke), and Christina Guzman (25th in the 50-yard freestyle). In the relay events, Del Angel, Rodriguez, Martinez, and Olvera teamed up to take fourth place in the 200-yard medley relay and fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle relay.

Next up for the AquaMavericks is the 19-team Texas City Turkey Bowl Swimming and Diving Invitational on November 18-19 at Matthew T Doyle Natatorium in Texas City. 

Sam Rayburn HS swimmers pick up three top-eight finishes at Beaumont Invitational

Submitted photo by
Darla Kelly, Pasadena ISD

By Chris Price
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

BEAUMONT, TEXAS (November 13, 2021) Select members of the Sam Rayburn High School Swimming Team travelled to Beaumont on Saturday to compete in the Christopher McClain Beaumont ISD Sprint Invitational. The meet was held at the Beaumont ISD Natatorium and saw 17 of the top high school teams from southeast Texas invited to compete in the annual classic.

The Texans were represented by four athletes in eight events, with three swims finishing in the top eight in their events. Senior and four-year team member Mitzy Gonzalez-Perez (shown second from left) carried the banner for Sam Rayburn, placing second in the 200-yard freestyle and seventh in the 100-yard breaststroke. Also breaking into the top eight was freshman Zachariah Flores (shown third from left) who took fifth in the 200-yard freestyle. He also placed 13th in the highly contested 100-yard freestyle.'

Senior Jason Arismendez (shown far left), who is also a four-year member of the Texan program, finished 11th in the 200-yard freestyle and 39th in the 50-yard freestyle. Freshman Darianna Rodriguez (shown far right) contributed with a 15th place in the 100-yard freestyle and 18th in the 50-yard freestyle.

As a result of the individual performances, the Texans placed 10th in the girls division, 12th in the boys division and 13th in combined scoring. Next up for the AquaTexans is the 19-team Texas City Turkey Bowl Swimming and Diving Invitational on November 18-19 at Matthew T Doyle Natatorium in Texas City. 

Houston Dynamo FC to face Sporting Kansas City on Sunday

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 3, 2021) The Houston Dynamo FC hits the road with six games remaining in the season to face Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City with a 3 p.m. CT start.

Dynamo head coach Tab Ramos talked with the press on Friday, October 1, via zoom, and talked about the team's preparation for the match.

First, he discussed how the team is navigating this match prior to the international match.

 "Obviously, we're a little disappointed after this last game that we couldn't get three points. In particular, once we analyzed the video and we saw how many clear chances we had to win the game by two or three goals, it's disappointing. We have to keep moving forward. This team has done a good job of that, of putting things behind and working as hard as possible for the next game and that's what we'll keep doing."

He also talked about what to expect from Kansas City.

 "I think it's no secret that they are a really good team. I feel like Seattle and Kansas City are the two best teams in the Western Conference. I have to say, I'd have to include Portland in there because I think player-by-player, I think Portland is just as good and they will get their form. Kansas City is difficult in particular at their place. I feel like we're in a good moment right now and we're going for the win, that's what we prepare for."

With the MLS playoffs looming on the horizon, he stated: 

"I think we cross that bridge when the time comes. Personally, I can tell you I've been involved in soccer since I was five-years-old, so it's been 50 years of doing this. I've never quit anything, and we always do all we can to win games. At the end of the day, that's why you play the games. Right now, we're still in it, I think we need a big result this weekend. That's what we're going for and that's what the players are excited about." 

Having beat Kansas City earlier this season, he discussed if that game will play an impact on Sunday's matchup.

"We think we can, I think Kansas City is playing better now than they were at that time, but I feel like we're playing better than we were at that time. I think defensively we're much more solid right now than we were at that moment. I know we won the game I think 1-0, when we played them at home. I didn't feel like we were as solid as we are today, we didn't have Teenage (Hadebe) at that time I believe. I think we're a better team now than we were at that time and I think they are as well." 

He was also asked if they are doing anything differently to prepare for this road game:

"Not really. We have to analyze the video and we have to think about how we're doing according to what we see there. Not necessarily and I realize of course that I'm always responsible for results only, I know that's the one thing that matters. When we analyze the video, we have to look at chance creation and how we were in front of the goal and did we get in front of the goal and should we have been winning the game. I think we're at that place where I feel like this last game, we certainly should have won it and in Minnesota we made two serious mistakes to start the game that kind of took us out of the game, the rest of the game was good. Not that that's a consolation, but I do look at our last five games and I see us in a good trend playing better and doing well. I think at the moment, we of course improve a few little things here and there, but we're defending a lot better and we have to continue to do that and that gives us a chance to win."