The Veterans Memorial Patriots returned to the pitch for their final pool play match of the Harlandale Tournament on January 9, 2026 against a skilled Harlingen Cardinals squad. It was a high-scoring, competitive affair that saw the Patriots fighting for position until the final whistle. The Patriots opened the match with significant momentum, immediately moving the ball into the Cardinals' territory. While the Patriots created several early scoring opportunities, Harlingen was the first to find the net. Our Patriots showed great composure, responding quickly with a goal by Fausto Castro, assisted by Manny Pruneda. The momentum continued to swing as Harlingen regained the lead, only for Manny Pruneda to strike back with a goal of his own to even the score once more. A late first-half goal by the Cardinals sent the teams into the locker room with the Patriots trailing narrowly, 3-2. The second half saw the Patriots continue their offensive press, keeping the pressure on the Harlingen defense. However, the Cardinals proved dangerous on the counter-attack, testing the Patriot back line with multiple scoring attempts. Despite the Patriots' relentless effort to equalize, Harlingen was able to find the net twice more to secure a 5-2 victory. With a third-place finish in their pool, the Patriots have earned a spot in the next round of the bracket. They will take the field again later today for a final matchup of the day against Holmes.