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| Submitted photo, Used with permission. |
The Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association
(TISCA) recognized Pasadena Memorial High School’s recently graduated seniors
Rachel Del Angel, Cinthea Martinez, and Zulema Pica, along with current seniors
Madison Arcizo and Jenae Flores. Del Angel, Martinez, and Pica were two-time recipients
of the award, having also been honored in 2021-2022.
Pasadena High School recently graduated senior Ana Mercado
and current senior Emely Lopez were also honored by TISCA, along with 2022 Sam
Rayburn High School graduate Mitzy Gonzalez-Perez.
The Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) and the
Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) also bestowed academic all-state honors
on Memorial’s Del Angel, Martinez, and Pica.
These eight Pasadena ISD student-athletes were the only selections
from District 22-6A. Del Angel is headed to Ouachita Baptist University in the
fall and will be continuing her swimming career at the NCAA Division II level.
Pica and Martinez will be attending college at Stephen F Austin State University,
while Mercado and Gonzalez are slated to attend San Jacinto College in the
fall.
As for Lopez, Arcizo, and Flores, they will return to their respective
high schools for their senior year and compete in their final season as high
school athletes.
HOUSTON, TEXAS (Sunday, July 3, 2022) The Houston Dynamo FC dropped a 2-1 decision to Charlotte FC at PNC Stadium in Houston on Sunday evening. Senior photographer Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography, was on hand to photograph all the action. Click here to view all the game action photos.
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| Photo to Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved |
“Positives—not many to be honest with you. I think one of the things that we have been praising that we need to be better is consistency and when you play two games like you play against Chicago and Portland, that in my opinion was two good games, even though we didn’t get a result in Portland and you come today with that kind of performance – that worries me. That’s something that we need to work on, our consistency and especially playing at home. I have been talking and I been saying this many times; we need to be more dominant. In the game today one thing that we take away is that our giveaways will affect our game especially at home and I think today it did big time.”Houston started the game like they intended to control the game from the very first minute. In the first half, Houston trailed 1-0, on an own goal in the 28th minute by Dynamo midfielder Matias Vera. They led on shots (9-7) and corner kicks (4-1). and ended the first half trailing by one. Nagamura added to his comments when questioned about the own goal.
"Every time you go down 1-0, you know that team is going to wait for it and counter. To be honest, I think both goals are very soft goals by us. We could have done much better than we did on both goals and again it was just a bad day overall for us.”
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| Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved |
In the second half, the Dynamo lost focus and could not find the focus and aggressiveness shown in the first 45 minutes. Charlotte added to its lead in the 74th minute when forward Andre Shinyashiki came off the bench and punched one past Houston goalkeeper Steve Clark straight from the top of the box. Seven minutes later, the Dynamo were able to get on the scoreboard when forward Fafa Picault (shown above) also came off the bench to score and prevent Houston from being shut out.
Houston captain Tim Parker also express his lack of satisfaction in the Dyanmo's performance when questioned by the press.
“It was disappointing. When teams come down to Houston, especially with the crowd we had tonight and the fans which we haven’t seen in a while - it is disappointing to obviously not get the three points, but also not play as well as we thought we were going to.”
The Dynamo will play their next two matches against in-state rivals. They will first face FC Dallas on Saturday, July 9 at PNC Stadium. Three days later, they travel to Q2 Stadium to face Austin FC.
With the loss, Houston drops to 6-3-9 (W-D-L) with 16 games remaining in the season.
Former Houston Dash midfielder Denise O'Sulivan found the back of the goal first, in the sixth minute, to put the Courage up 1-0. The Dash responded nine minutes later when Maria Sanchez scored her first goal of season to tie the score at one in the 15th minute.
The score remained at 1-1 through the reminder of the first half, and two minutes into the second half. Then, in the 47th minute, the Dash erupted with three goals in four minutes. Elizabeth Eddy secured the brace with back-to-back goals in the 47th and 50th minute. Nichelle Prince added an additional goal one minute later (51st minute).
The Courage came back to cut the score to 3-4 when Diana Ordonoz and Débora Cristiane de Oliveira scored goals in the 57th and 59th minutes, respectively.
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Photo by Darla Tamulitis La Vita Loca Photography Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved |
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| Rachel Daly was honored prior to the match for her 100th NWSL appearance against the North Carolina Courage on May 29, 2022. Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved |
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| Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2022, All Rights Reserved |
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.
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| Photo by Darla Tamulitis La Vita Loca Photography Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved |
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| Rachel Daly with the Challenge Cup trophy from 2022. Photo by Darla S Tamulitis La Vita Loca Photography Copyright 2020 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.
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| Photo by Darla S Tamulitis La Vita Loca Photography 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.
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.
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| Photo by Darla S.Tamulitis La Vita Loca Photography 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 14th 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).
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| Photo courtesy of USA Softball and University if Texas Sports Communications |
