Rams, Storm soccer head into APS tourney after opening week

RIO RANCHO - Just a week into the season, it’s tournament time.

The APS Metro soccer tournament, that is. One of the marquee events of the high school athletic year kicks off on the APS Complex pitch, with Rio Rancho and Cleveland both coming off a rollercoaster of an opening week.

Rio Rancho girls soccer:

2-0(6-0 W vs Las Cruces, 2-0 W vs Organ Mountain)

Many questions surrounded Coach Jenna Sievers' team heading into the season, with a large majority of the team composed of new names and younger talent.

This past week, the Rams found all the right answers.

A dominant win over the Bulldawgs and a competitive win versus the Knights mark their first 2-0 start since 2022. Two shutouts in net from sophomore keeper Tegan Chaves backed an energetic offense.

Freshman Danae Lee and sophomore Adisen Ly combined for four goals on the week, with sophomore Sophia Smith tallying three assists and a goal as well.

It’s a hot start for the Rams, but Sievers says they must keep moving forward.

“Just taking it one game at a time. There are always things we can improve on, so celebrating the wins, but taking each chance we can to improve on those little things along the way.”

They will get set for a Saturday morning matchup vs 1-0 La Cueva.

APS Metro Schedule: Aug. 23 vs La Cueva 9 a.m., Aug. 26 vs Atrisco 6:30 p.m., Aug. 28 vs St Pius X 4:30 p.m.

Cleveland girls soccer

0-1-1 (4-3 L vs Organ Mountain, 3-3 Tie vs Las Cruces)

Leaving the first week without a win wasn’t the plan for the Cleveland Storm, but after two hard-fought, competitive games, the takeaways are bigger than the box score.

A week of tough breaks in back-to-back extra time games didn’t diminish the shine of the Storm’s stars. Senior Angeline Montoya netted two goals in the season opener, with junior Aliyah C’de Baca following suit with two goals of her own in game two.

Senior goalkeeper Maddie Johnson notched seven saves in the tie, playing a vital role in avoiding a second loss.

Despite their start, Head Coach Greg Rusk’s veteran group of talent will be a team to watch out for in APS play.

“We just have to go in strong,” C’de Baca told Observer correspondent Daniel Zuniga. “Go in as we play, just trust each other. Just allow each other to play through each other.”

C’de Baca and the Storm will open up the tournament with Sandia Prep on Saturday afternoon.

APS Metro Schedule: Aug. 23 vs Sandia Prep 3 p.m., Aug. 26 vs Hope 4:30 p.m., Aug. 28 vs Manzano 6:30 p.m.

Rio Rancho boys soccer

2-0 (8-1 W @ Las Cruces, 1-0 W @ Organ Mountain)

Despite being 234 miles away, Head Coach John Shepard and his squad followed the same model as the girls’ performance at home.

An offensive clinic against the Bulldawgs and a competitive shutout over the Knights also put them at 2-0, making Rio Rancho soccer a combined 4-0 to start the year.

Coming off a state semifinal appearance, the Rams are made up of an experienced upperclassmen unit. Juniors from last year’s semi-finalists are now in their senior finale, and they are making the most of it early.

Everyone joined the scoresheet in the 8-1 runaway, but in game two, senior Parker Dunn would be the lone goal-scorer in the 1-0 victory. His quick strike off a deflected header from a corner kick ended up being the difference maker in the undefeated trip down south.

With some unfinished business from last season, Dunn and the Rams will look to leave their mark on the APS tourney. They open up with Albuquerque Academy on Saturday.

APS Metro Schedule: Aug. 23 vs ABQ Academy 11 a.m., Aug. 25 vs Sandia 6:30 p.m., Aug. 27 vs Highland 4:30 p.m.

Cleveland boys soccer

1-1 (2-1 L @ Organ Mountain, 1-0 W @ Las Cruces)

Head Coach Shaun Gill and the Storm made one thing clear on Wednesday: They did not travel four hours to go 0-2.

That energy was exemplified in a defensive clash against Las Cruces, shutting out the Bulldawgs in a 1-0 victory to leave the week at .500.

The win was reminiscent of last year’s meeting with Las Cruces, where the Storm pulled out a 1-0 victory in extra time at home. In an intense battle, Cleveland was not going to let the ‘Dawgs get their revenge.

Cleveland’s sturdy defense has carried over from last season, when the Storm finished the season 3-2-1 in their final five, including two shutout victories and an upset over rival Rio Rancho.

They’ll have to bring that defensive energy bright and early when they face Eldorado on Saturday morning.

APS Metro Schedule: Aug. 23 vs Eldorado 9 a.m., Aug. 25 vs Valley 4:30 p.m., Aug. 27 vs Rio Grande 6:30 p.m.