Soccer season starts with dramatic back-to-backs

Boys Soccer

RIO RANCHO (Aug. 20, 2024) — Rio Rancho High School boys soccer opened its season with a 3-0 drubbing of out-of-town visitors, the Las Cruces Bulldogs, on a hot Tuesday evening at RRHS soccer field.

The Aug. 20 match opened with a grinding, physical pace. The Bulldogs used their size advantage to keep the Rams off-balance. While RRHS took at least a half dozen shots in the first half, they were all from wide range and, other than a glance off the top crossbar, none seemed destined to find the net. Even so, RRHS dominated possession.

The Rams adjusted at halftime, finding ways to use their speed and precision to bypass their opponent's strengths.

“We talked about [the size of Las Cruces], and the guys really talked through what to do to counter that,” said head coach John Shepard. “I’m really proud of them for that.”

The second half was a different story altogether. The Rams came out of the gate ready. Junior Lucas Gutierrez opened the scoring for the season less than four minutes into the half (minute 48:00) after a spot-on assist from senior Mateo Dean.

It wasn’t long before more Rams followed.

Senior Julian Sanchez found the back of the net two minutes later (50:00), and senior Aaron Meserve scored one of his own four minutes after that (54:00).

That’s where the scoring ended, but the game continued for another 30-plus minutes in the scorching heat. By the end, cramping seemed to be the biggest foe for both teams.

“The breeze was saving my life,” laughed Shepard.

Despite the undaunted evening sun, both squads played hard until the end, something Shepard loves about his team.

“I love the culture,” he said. “I love the teamwork. I see a lot of positives, with the number one being the guys’ attitude.”

Shepard says this Rams squad can pull each other through difficult times.

“They were supportive of each other [today] and they enjoyed the successes of their teammates, and I think that’s important going forward for when it gets tough and ugly,” he said. “Do we have stuff to work on? Yeah, we got some stuff to work on, but it’s a good start.”

RIO RANCHO (Aug. 21, 2024) — The Cleveland boys soccer team defeated Las Cruces 1-0 in overtime after a grueling, physical affair to wrap a two-day home stretch and open their season.

CHS iwon two in a row, beating Organ Mountain 2-1 on Aug. 20 and pushing their record to 2-0.

It was getting late on Wednesday afternoon. The blazing sun was beginning to dip behind the western stands, the clock was winding down (or up, in the case of soccer) and both teams were on their last legs as sophomore defender Zac Martinez caught the ball at his feet just outside his attacking third. A short dribble, a stiff punt, and Martinez's ball found the back of the net just as overtime wrapped.

“We played well. We stuck to the game plan,” said Storm head coach Shaun Gill. “The guys are passing well, they’re moving well. [Las Cruces was] gassing, and my guys were still going strong, so I’m proud of them for that ... even though it’s 100-plus degrees on the turf.”

Overall, Gill said he is happy with how the season opened. He loves his team's fire and drive.

“They did well yesterday and today, and we are starting to come together,” he said.

In fact, his biggest concern, especially on the hot days, is making sure his team is hydrated and rested.

“We had one cramp but other than that, they were mad that I was taking them out,” Gill said. “They were like, ‘Coach, why are you taking me out?’ And I was like, ‘Well, it’s hot out there and you need to hydrate and stay cool.’ I keep telling them we have another game on Saturday.”

The heat wasn’t the only thing the Storm were fighting. Las Cruces attempted to use their size and physicality to dominate the game. They quickly discovered CHS was more than a match for the Las Cruces' size.

The Bulldawgs quickly shifted tactics and moved into an almost exclusively defensive formation, content to defend (or “park the bus”) and counterattack when they could find an opening. As a result, the Storm dominated possession and shots-on-goal, but the tactic seemed to work.

That is, it worked until deep into extra time when Martinez blasted a shot from roughly 25 yards out and ended the match.

“I saw [the ball] bouncing, and I was looking for that exact ball all game,” said Martinez. “I told [sophomore midfielder William McNamara] to leave it, and it was just instinct, and I hit it, and it went in.”

Gill said the shot was right in Martinez’s wheelhouse and he was hoping the rising star defender would get the opportunity.

“Zac has a nice shot, and he laced that,” said Gill. “It was a pretty shot.”

After the game, an elated Martinez gave credit to his team and acknowledged the efforts of the visitors.

“It was all a team effort,” he said. “The other team worked hard, but at the end of the day, it’s just heart.”

Girls Soccer

LAS CRUCES — Both the CHS and the RRHS girls soccer teams returned home Aug. 21 after a two-games-in-two-days series in Las Cruces to open their seasons, and both squads split their respective series at 1-1.

The season opened Aug. 20 with RRHS suffering a 1-0 defeat to Las Cruces. CHS followed, taking their own 1-0 loss to Organ Mountain.

With little time to dwell on the previous day’s frustrations, the Storm and the Rams both came out ready to play the following evening. Again, the two visitors from Rio Rancho shared the same results.

CHS defeated Las Cruces 2-1 in overtime, followed by an eerily similar 2-1 overtime victory for RRHS.

“I’m happy with them,” said RRHS girls soccer head coach Jenna Sievers. “It was really tough, really hot, but it’s nice to come home with the win.”

Sievers says the team’s success was due to a mixture of veteran leadership and several of the youngest players stepping up.

“Kiki [junior Kieara Trujillo-Garcia] scored that first goal that really got us back into it,” she said, referring to Trujillo-Garcia's goal in minute 24. “And then, in overtime, Adisen Ly got that goal. She’s a freshman. And Danae Lee, she’s in eighth grade, she got the assist. So, it’s pretty cool to see them all connecting.”

Sievers was being modest. Trujillo-Garcia dribbled through three defenders and launched a rocket from 10 yards out. In turn, Ly hit her shot from the far post after a laser pass from Lee.

Not to be outdone, Coach Gregory Rusk and his Storm squad had their hands full with an aggressive Las Cruces squad. They also came out on top with a 2-1 victory, thanks to a late overtime goal from sophomore defender Autumn Howell, with the assist from senior Arissa C’deBaca.

The game started fast, with sophomore midfielder Maritza Gonzalez getting Cleveland on the scoreboard in the first six minutes. Las Cruces fired back immediately with a seventh-minute goal of their own.

From there, the match became a grind. Both teams were roughly similar in shots-on-goal (14 and 13) and corners (7 and 9), but it was Cleveland who pulled it out late with Howell’s goal in the 92nd minute.

Neither the Storm nor the Rams had much time to rest, though. The ABQ Metro Tournament started Friday at the APS Soccer Complex, 8111 Rainbow Blvd NW.