RRHS girls' soccer celebrates seniors

RIO RANCHO- On Oct. 21, the Rio Rancho High School girls' soccer team (7-10-1) honored their seniors at RRHS football stadium for senior night.

Despite losing a close game to Cibola (9-6-3), the Rams had a night to remember.

The final: Rio Rancho 0, Cibola 1 (44' Lisa Torres).

The night started with a special ceremony featuring RRHS senior players walking out with parents and loved ones. The seniors were given a bouquet of flowers, and even Cibola seniors got some flowers.

Then, it was time for kickoff, and what a special moment it was for the RRHS senior Lauryn Machuzak.

"It was scary...there were a lot of people," Machuzak jokingly said as her teammates laughed. "I haven't played in seven months. It was fun."

Machuzak- a senior- tore her ACL back in May while playing club soccer. On senior night, she entered the game for the kickoff; her first game of the season.

An emotional Machuzak got quite an ovation from the crowd and passed the ball to a teammate who kicked it out of bounds so that Machuzak could sub out.

As she left the field, her teammates made sure to give her a giant group hug.

The Rio Rancho Rams played with some intensity to start the game and dominated possession of the ball in the first half.

However, early in the second half, the Cougars took advantage of a nice-look, and junior Lisa Torres would score the lone goal in the 44th minute.

The Rams played hard but weren't able to sink a ball in the net.

"Don't let the hard times hold you back. Always step forward, always look ahead," RRHS captain Aubrey Pino said.

The Rams will hop on the road for their final two regular season games: on Oct. 23 they will play Piedra Vista (8-8-1), and on Oct. 26 they have a rivalry game against Cleveland (11-7).

Rio Rancho Seniors

Each senior was asked, "What has it meant to put on the Ram uniform all these years?"

Makenna Blanton, wing/forward

"It's meant to make friendships and show leadership on the field, and to go out with a bang."

Lauryn Machuzak, defender/midfielder/forward

"To make friends and be happy."

Brooklyn Ferdinand, forward

"It has brought me a lot of joy, and taught me leadership, and how to work with a team. I just think that putting on the jersey also helps the younger girls know how to have fun and be a leader on the field."

Isabela Ferdinand, goalkeeper

"It means everything. To have a place to just leave everything. You're struggling somewhere else; you can just leave it behind and know that the uniform will always be there for you; whatever you're going through."

Santana Solano, defender

"It means forever family, forever friendships, sisters. Like Izzy said, it's a safe spot. You can leave everything out, and just play the game you love."

Aubrey Pino, center back

"For me, it meant accomplishment. Not just for me but for the girls. I mean it's been four years of fun memories, hard trials and a lot of experiences of pushing through together. Leadership too. I think these girls have built me into the leader that I am... every time I put that jersey on, it's for them."

Emilee Miller, wing/midfield

"It's meant everything to me. Soccer has been a part of my life for forever, and it's given me so much confidence. Especially being on the field with these amazing girls.