NM Runners fall on the road in season-opener

RIO RANCHO – The New Mexico Runners arena soccer team opened their season in Kansas on Saturday night, Dec. 14, with a 14-4 loss to the Wichita Wings.

For the Runners, midfielder Andres Monge was arguably the top performer. He logged an assist to go along with one of the team’s four goals. The other Runners’ assist was credited to forward Peter Inserillo.

In the net, it was a busy night for goalkeeper Nate Yeager who had to field 34 shots from the Wichita squad. He allowed 14 goals but got 17 saves.

Speaking of shots, the Runners may have only scored four goals, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. The team posted 22 shots. The Wings recorded 12 saves between two different keepers.

Wichita showed no signs of slowing from their hot start to the season and are clearly the top dog in the Arena Soccer League at the moment. They haven’t just won their first three games; they’ve annihilated all opponents.

It took all of one minute and 15 seconds for the Wings to score their first goal, a laser from Juan Zamora.

Things did not improve from there.

In the second quarter, the Wings scored within 28-seconds. It took a full 37-seconds for Wichita to score in the third quarter. And in the fourth? 41 seconds.

In total, the Wichita Wings had five players score two goals (known as a “brace” in soccer circles): Juan Zamora, Caique Trivelato, Radley Arnold, Kevin Ten Eyck, Guilherme Oliveira.

Additionally, Trivelato and Arnold both nabbed two assists apiece. But the “King of the Assist” for the match was certainly Ten Eyck, who was around the net all night and was credited with the assist on four of the team’s 14 goals.

The Runners fall to 0-1 to start the season, but there is a lot of footy left to play.

“It was a tough loss, indeed,” said team owner Andres Trujillo after the game. “But I think we will get one back this Sunday on the road.”

Next up, the Runners face Oklahoma City’s Certified Lions FC, who are 0-2 after falling twice to the Wichita Wings to start the season (10-2 on Nov. 23 in Oklahoma City, and 6-3 on Dec. 7 in Wichita).

WICHITA WINGS 14,

NM RUNNERS 4

Dec. 14 – Park City Arena, Park City, KS

Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th — F

Runners 1 2 0 1 — 4

Wings 4 4 3 3 — 14

Shots: WW 34, NM 22. Goals: WW, Juan Zamora (2), Erik Barragan, Caique Trivelato (2), Radley Arnold (2), Kevin Ten Eyck (2), Erik Barragan, Kieran Laking, Guilherme Oliveira (2), Carlos Vidrio. NM, Froilan Ramirez, Michael Stephens, Jordan Maldonado, Andres Monge. Assists: WW, Jose Ocampo, Trivelato (2), Arnold (2), Ten Eyck (4), Zamora, David Lucio, Oliveira, Ethan Doud. NM, Peter Inserillo, Monge. Saves: WW, Ocampo 2, Aaron Parrott 10. NM, Nate Yeager 17. Cards: WW, 4 Blue. NM, 5 Blue, 1 Yellow, 1 Red. Rec.: WW 3-0, NM 0-1.