NM Runners fall to 0-2 in OKC

RIO RANCHO – It’s been a tough start to the season for the New Mexico Runners, Rio Rancho’s arena soccer team, as they fell to Certified Lions FC on the road in Oklahoma City on Dec. 21.

The news doesn’t really get any better from there. They lost 19-5, which now sets their goal-differential at -24, which means they’ve allowed 24 more goals than they’ve scored. It’s only the second game of the season.

The Runners knew they had a long night ahead of them when a quick strike from Lion Ruben Torres sent a rocket into the corner of the net just 17 seconds into the match. But they managed to hold on with their best defense of the season so far and didn’t allow another goal until the end of the first quarter.

The Runners actually rallied from the opening goal, and Runner Miguel Garcia knocked in a tight goal at the six-minute mark in the first.

The Runners got moving in the second period, their most productive of the evening. Jordan Maldonado scored twice in the second period, and Asher Saban finished of the team hat trick.

Unfortunately, the Lions put five into the back of the net in the second.

Halftime did not help the Runners.

The Lions came out in the third quarter on fire. They scored two goals in the first 27 seconds of the quarter. Three minutes later, they scored twice in another under-30-second span.

By the end of the third quarter, the score read 13-5.

But the worst was yet to come. The Lions put up a massive six goals in the fourth period, three in the final two minutes alone.

Lions player Ruben Torres was the player of the game, scoring six of OKC’s 19 goals. Lions player Jason Montanez was also worthy of note, scoring four.

On the Runners side, Jordan Maldonado was the player of the game, scoring three of New Mexico’s five goals.

It’s been a tough start for the NM Runners, but they’ll get a shot at a rematch against the Certified Lions on Dec. 29 at the Rio Rancho Event Center in the 2024-25 season home opener.

Visit newmexicorunners.com for more information.