These Lady Titans have decided they intend to write a bit of history for themselves in the humble annals of Port Arthur Memorial girls soccer.

Coach Phil Mattingly’s team captured its second district victory in school history and its first in four years on Friday night when Memorial defeated Channelview, 5-1, in its 21-5A league opener on the PAISD auxiliary field.

Memorial improved to 6-1 and 1-0 but they had lingered through 44 consecutive 5A district games without a victory until Friday. In fact, the win over Channelview amounted to the greatest district girls soccer win in history as well as the largest margin of victory.

Playing 5A soccer for the fifth winter, Memorial’s one previous 5A soccer win occurred Feb. 14, 2003 at home when the Lady Titans turned back Baytown Lee, 3-1. Memorial will get a chance to make a little more history on Tuesday night when it will play at Atascocita. That’s because Memorial’s girls never have captured a girls district soccer road victory in school history, either.

But this group of Lady Titans has seemed to enjoy rewriting history… and pleasing their veteran soccer coach. Thomas Jefferson amassed a 7-6 district soccer record in the school’s final year of existence (2002). Then Memorial went 1-9 in 2003 (22-5A), 0-8-2 in 2004 (22-5A), 0-14 in 2005 (22-5A), and 0-14 in 2006 (22-5A).

“A lot of these girls have been together for four years and that helps,” Mattingly said. “Evelyn (Torres) has added some speed and Norma (Pulido) has benefitted from running cross country.”

Memorial led 3-0 at half after two goals from Torres and one from Pulido. Plus, senior goalkeeper Jessica Cuellar’s efforts proved crucial with 10 saves.

Memorial led in shots on goal, 22-18, but Cuellar and sweeper Cynthia Rodriguez delivered strong performances. The Lady Titans also received excellent midfield work from Vanessa Flores and Maricela Pulido.

Torres and Norma Pulido scored two goals each and Veronica Gutierrez added one. Flores led the assists column with two followed by Torres and Norma Pulido with one each.

 

Nederland girls 10, Beaumont Central 0

NEDERLAND — Nederland never had a great deal of trouble in racking up a 10-0 win over Beaumont Central in Bulldog Stadium on Friday night.

Catching up with Port Neches-Groves and moving into a two-way tie for the girls 20-4A district lead, the Lady Bulldogs of Julie Johnson improved to 7-1 overall.

Ashley Bombek and Megan Melancon scored two goals apiece while six others added one each — Taren Dupuis, Brittany Richmond, Lauren Washburn, Mary French, Taylor Havard, and Erin Binagia.

The win was the fourth straight district shutout and season’s fifth for goalkeeper Heather Hussey.

Nederland and Beaumont Ozen will collide on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

 

Central-Nederland boys postponed to today

BEAUMONT — Beaumont ISD athletic director Rodney Saveat announced that officials from Beaumont Central and Nederland agreed to postpone Friday night’s 20-4A boys game to today at noon.

BISD officials believed the additional time would help to harden the very soft and muddy playing field at Babe Zaharias Stadium.

 

Port Neches-Groves boys 7, West Orange-Stark 0

WEST ORANGE — Seniors Matt Parks and Sean LeBlanc knocked home two first-half goals apiece and Port Neches-Groves notched a routine 7-0 win over West Orange-Stark on Friday night.

The Indians (5-2-2 and 4-1) had a 2-0 advantage less than 10 minutes into the game and stretched the cushion to 6-0 by halftime. This victory was the season’s third straight shutout for PN-G junior goalkeeper Steven Baque, who had four saves.

Two early assists from Eric Parks placed the Indians ahead. Matt Parks scored the first goal about five minutes into the game and LeBlanc doubled the lead about two minutes later. Carlos Ortiz and Evan Johnson padded the lead to 4-0 and the duo of Matt Parks and LeBlanc scored again before halftime.

Austin Angelle managed the second half’s only goal as coach Don Sandell’s squad remained in the thick of the district race.

“I thought we gave another good defensive effort,” Sandell said. “But we will really have to step it up next week.”

PN-G will entertain Little Cypress-Mauriceville on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

 

Channelview boys 4, Port Arthur Memorial 2

CHANNELVIEW — Channelview converted a pair of early goals and held on for a 4-2 victory in the boys 21-5A district opener for Memorial and first-year head coach Brian Morgan.

The Titans (0-2 and 0-1) trailed 3-1 by halftime and received two goals by junior midfielder Ruben Diaz, who knocked home a second-half penalty kick.

The two unassisted goals could not offset the work of Channelview’s main offensive weapons, Omar Legorherra and Gilberto Aracheta. Junior Erasmo DeLosSantos and sophomore Rey Marin divided the goalkeeping chores for Port Arthur as the Channelview team improved to 3-4-1 and 1-0.

“I thought that Channelview got a couple of easy goals but overall it was a real good game,” Morgan said.

The Titans had lost earlier in this week in their other regular-season outing to New Caney, 6-0.

Memorial will host Atascocita at the PAISD auxiliary field on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.