With piles of snow and ice surrounding the playing field at Dick Bivins Stadium, Amarillo ISD soccer teams braved cold elements Saturday opening District 3-5A action.

The highlight of Saturday’s slate was a nightcap matchup between the Amarillo High Sandies and the Palo Duro Dons in a key boys clash under the lights.

Palo Duro was strong throughout earning a 3-0 shutout of the Sandies to win the opener.

The Dons took an early lead at the 26-minute mark when Ever Gutierrez assisted Daniel Gonzalez with a goal putting Palo Duro up 1-0. In the second half, Palo Duro got a little breathing room from the Sandies going up 2-0 at the 59th minute behind a Eliel Baray goal with Gutierrez getting his second assist.

The Dons then put the icing on the cake of the victory late in the clash when Jose Garcia tallied the third and final score. Erick Salazar had a clean sheet at goalkeeper, making three saves on the night.

The Dons are now 1-0 in district while improving to 3-2 overall on the year. AHS falls to 0-1 in district play, and 1-2-1 overall.

The Lady Sandies and Lady Dons took center stage right before the boys game with AHS coming away with a convincing 4-0 win.

AHS has picked up where it left off last season opening the year at 4-1 and are now 1-0 in District 3-5A. Palo Duro slips to 3-3-1 overall and 0-1 in district.

The game was scoreless for most of the first half until Sofia Pepper of AHS started the scoring at the 38th minute mark knocking one through the net behind an assist from Sophie Ferro.

To open the second half, Ferro continued her strong play scoring at the 43-minute mark on a free kick. At the 50-minute mark, AHS had all the momentum when Ferro assisted Madeline Rankin for a goal and a commanding 3-0 advantage.

District quick hits 

• The Tascosa Lady Rebels opened District 3-5A with a 9-0 blowout win against Plainview on Saturday. Tabitha Fowler earned a hattrick with three goals adding two assists in the victory. The Lady Rebels improve to 1-2-1 overall and 1-0 in district play.
• The Tascosa Rebels were also victorious getting a 2-0 shutout against Plainview at Dick Bivins on Saturday afternoon. The Rebels are off to a 5-0-1 start to the season and 1-0 in 3-5A. Franck Ndakize and David Cung scored the goals with Patrick Bienevu and Even Phansana tallying the assists. Nick Carducci had a clean sheet with five saves.
• It was a strong start for the Caprock boys team as the Longhorns downed Lubbock High on the road 3-1. Aldo Carrasco netted a hattrick with all three goals. The Longhorns push their record to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in District 3-5A.
• The Caprock Lady Longhorns suffered a loss to open district falling to Lubbock High 3-1.