PORT NECHES — Aimee Bates learned something real quick about her team on Friday.
The Port Neches-Groves Lady Indians were going up against Santa Fe, and early in the first half starter Bailey Tran went down with a sprained ankle.
This left the Lady Indians without three starters on the field. Santa Fe won the match 2-1, but it was not without a fight from PN-G.
Mikayla Johnson missed Friday’s match with a hip flexor and Kayla Reed was out with a hamstring injury.
Reed is expected back today and Johnson could be back next week.
“We talked about at half what it means to be an Indian,” Bates said. “Being an Indian, you are not just born in Port Neches or born in Groves. Being an Indian as an athlete, you believe and you fight when chips are down when you have three of your seniors out. It is going to battle. In the second half, we picked it up and we went head-to-head with three starters out against them. We are on fire.”
The Lady Indians (1-3-1) tied the match at 1-1 with 14:10 left in the first half off a Hailey Loupe goal. Loupe fired the ball into the box and it was at first deflected by the Santa Fe goalie. The ball flipped over the goalie and into the net.
PN-G did not surrender the go-ahead goal until there was 3:30 left in the match. Angel Cohen scored the winning goal off a header to put Santa Fe up 2-1.
Santa Fe (6-1) only needed 5 minutes to score the game’s first goal to go up 1-0 on the Lady Indians.
“That was a gutty performance,” Bates said. “The match got really ugly and our kids put forth great effort today. I am so proud of them.”
This type of match was exactly what Bates wanted to put her team through before the District 22-5A schedule starts on Jan. 29 at home against Baytown Lee.
“I truly believe this match will light a fire under us,” Bates said. “It will make us a better team. We are fighters and they will never give up. They can come from behind and play.”
PN-G and Santa Fe played last year in the second round of the playoffs. PN-G won 3-3 by outscoring Santa Fe 5-3 in a shootout. The two teams were tied 2-2 after regulation and the Lady Indians scored in the first overtime and Santa Fe scored in the second overtime to send the match into sudden death.
“I can’t wait to see them again in the playoffs,” Bates said.
PN-G finishes off its tournament schedule with an 8 a.m. tilt today against Galveston Ball.

TITANS GO 1-0-1 at
Galena Park Tourney
HOUSTON — The Port Arthur Memorial Titans grabbed their first win of the season Friday.
The Titans (1-3-1) defeated Lamar Consolidated 2-1 at the Galena Park Tournament.
Juan Lua-Varragan scored the Titans’ first goal off an assist from Sergio Sanchez with 28 minutes left in the first half. The score would remain 1-0 at the half.
Sanchez then found the back of the net from 20 yards out with 8:25 left in the match. Alvaro Lopez got the assist.
The Titans outshot Lamar Consolidated 15-2. Keeper Arturo Villarreal had three saves.
Jose Luis Garcia was noted for his defense.
Memorial then tied KIPP 0-0. Villarreal had five saves and the Titans outshot KIPP 6-2.
Kevin Vazguez was credited with great defense.
The Titans now face Clear Falls at 10 a.m. at Galena Park ISD Stadium in the third-place match.

NEDERLAND 3,
HAMSHIRE-FANNETT 0
NEDERLAND — The Nederland Bulldogs won their first home match of the season, 3-0 over Hamshire-Fannett.
Nederland’s first goal came from James Brindza off an assist by Alex Celaya. Travis Widenfeld made it 2-0 off a penalty kick drawn by Daniel Luketich. Jaime Moreno made it 3-0 on another penalty kick.
Anthony and Kaden Thompson were credited for the shutout. Anthony Thompson had one save.
The Bulldogs head to the Select Showcase in Brenham starting next Thursday.