RECAP: ACES SCORE THREE IS HOME OPENER WIN

WRITTEN BY: KYRA CAMPBELL

ACES SCORE THREE IN HOME OPENER WIN

The Houston Aces welcomed SouthStar FC to The Village School Field in Houston, Texas on Sunday, May 19 for the opening weekend of play in the Lone Star Conference. The Aces came away with a 3-1 win that has it sitting atop the conference standings early on in the season. 

It seemed like Houston was going to get an early lead as the team was awarded a penalty in the 3’ minute. Madison Bowers stepped up to take the kick for the Aces, but SouthStar’s keeper, Aubrey Brown, made a diving save to keep the match level at 0-0.

The match was back and forth for much of the first half, with both teams getting chances, but neither being able to pull away. 

After the halftime break, Houston came out on the front foot and immediately capitalized. In the 46’ minute, Kennedy Baquero opened the scoring as she chipped SouthStar’s keeper from outside the box. 

The Aces doubled its lead in the 55’ minute, as Bowers redeemed herself from her penalty kick miss and got on the scoresheet. 

SouthStar wasn’t going to go down easy, however, as Sonia Basma pulled one back for her team in the 85’ minute, as she followed up on a rebound where Aces goalkeeper, Idalia Serrano came out to make a save, leaving the goal empty. 

Houston put the game away in stoppage time of the second half with its third goal, scored by Dariana Recarte off a rebound from a blocked shot, making the final score 3-1. 

Around the conference, Classics Elite SA and Austin Rise FC also faced off this past weekend, with Classics Elite SA coming away with the win 2-0. 

The Houston Aces will face Austin Rise FC on Friday, May 24 in the South Region’s Match of the Week. SouthStar FC's next match comes on Friday, May 31 against Futbolera Select.