The News staff reports

A quick start by Port Arthur Memorial’s boys soccer team seemed to work wonders.

The Titans scored about 4 minutes into the game and stayed on a roll into the second half, but needed to hold off a late Nederland charge to win 3-2 Friday night.

Memorial (3-10, 3-4 in 22-5A) produced its first two goals off corner kicks from Jesus Gonzalez and Ricardo Monreal. Marvin Fernandez and Cristian Lua were the beneficiaries.

It was 3-0 when Robert Guzman scored 5 minutes into the second half off a penalty kick.

Nederland (8-6-1, 4-3) struck back with goals from Jace Mattingly and Travis Wiedenfeld in an 8-minute span. Eric Aviles made the assist.

A 40-minute rain delay began with 5:30 left in the game. Memorial goalie Ricardo Green and Saul Ayon minded the net to secure the win.

“We showed a lot of fight and just ran out of time,” Nederland coach Torrey Gomez said. “We had all the momentum in the second half. We just dug ourselves too big of a hole.”

The game followed a 4-2 Nederland win over Livingston on Wednesday. Wiedenfeld had two goals, and Kevin Monroy and Aldo Ramirez each scored in that win.

PNG 5, Livingston 1

LIVINGSTON — Preston Riggs led the Port Neches-Groves charge on the road with a pair of goals, and the Indians (14-1-2, 7-0 in 22-5A) protected their sterling district record with a rout of the Lions.

Garrison Vanhouten, Colton Stone and Kellon Hoyte each chalked up a goal for the Indians. Noah Riggs kept the goal for 70 minutes, with Nick Verberkt finishing the victory.

PNG led 2-0 at halftime.

GIRLS SOCCER

Nederland 7, Memorial 1

NEDERLAND — At Prather Field, Meg Sheppard helped Nederland stay active on the offensive end after a scoreless first half by both teams.

Sheppard netted two goals and assisted on two more, helping the Bulldogs sprint to a 7-1 win over the Titans.

Madison Ledet also had two assists and scored a goal. Madison Diaz, Lorin Deese, Abigail Albright and Haley Plumley each scored as well for Nederland (11-1-2, 5-1-1 in 22-5A).

“We played like we did the game against Port Neches, but we didn’t carry it out the second half,” Memorial coach Phillip Mattingly said. “They got after it the second half, and we didn’t get out like we did in the first.”

Arianna Fernandez made Memorial’s only goal.

The Titans dropped to 6-5-1 and 3-4.

PNG 3, Livingston 0

PORT NECHES — Port Neches-Groves continued to make a threat for the top spot in District 22-5A standings with a shutout of Livingston.

Hailey Loupe scored off a corner kick from Sophia Brant. Kenzie Bigham connected on a free kick, and Brant took a pass from Camryn Prosen to net a goal for PNG (12-2-1, 5-2 in 22-5A).

Libbie LeJeune earned the shutout in the net.

PNG would be tied for first in the district if Lumberton lost in a shootout to Vidor.

SOFTBALL

Brenhan 4, PNG 3

BRENHAM — Port Neches-Groves jumped to a 3-1 lead after two innings and went on to collect 12 hits, but Brenham pulled ahead with two runs in the sixth and came away with a 4-3 win in the Brenham Cubettes Lead-Off Classic on Friday.

The last two runs for the Cubettes came on a walk-off home run.

Rachel Hammersmith and Alexis LaBure each went 2 for 3 for PNG (3-1). LaBure drove in a run and, in the circle, delivered three strikeouts and four walks.

Hannah Denman was 1 for 2 and stole a base.

Brenham had only five hits.

Gregory-Portland 2, PNG 1

BRENHAM — Kaitlyn Boudreaux tripled in the fifth inning for PNG, but Gregory-Portland had done just enough to get the 2-1 win in the Cubettes Lead-Off Classic.

PNG pulled within 2-1 on Boudreaux’s triple, but that was all the Indians (3-2) could muster. Skylar Ouellette smashed a solo shot in the fifth to make it 2-0 for Gregory-Portland.

Kasidee Sartin stole a base. She, Boudreaux and Marlee Barnett each had a hit.