Storm boys season ends in heartbreaker shootout

ALBUQUERQUE (Oct. 29, 2024) — The Cleveland Storm are used to hearing chants of “Let’s go Rio!” coming from a passionate road crowd, but this time was a little different.

The Rio Grande Ravens (5-seed) are moving on to the NMAA Boys Soccer State Championship Quarterfinals after surviving a near upset in an aggressive match against 12th-seeded Cleveland.

The Ravens hit five of five penalty kicks in the game-ending shootout versus four of five from the Storm.

The game was physical and emotional with several injury stoppages, two warnings to the coaches and at least six bookings — including two red cards (CHS, E. Andrade; RGHS, M. Guillermo).

The Storm’s strength is in their size and physicality, which they used to great effect. The Ravens responded with speed and precision.

It was Cleveland who struck first, a penalty kick by striker Eric Andrade midway through the first half after a scramble in the CHS box left Storm forward Craig Armijo writhing on the ground in pain. He was helped off and didn’t return until overtime.

Following the goal, a rocket into the lower right corner of the net, Andrade took off running toward the stands in celebration, teammates in tow.

As he celebrated, he allegedly made a rude hand gesture toward the home crowd, prompting the first red card. Andrade left the field, and the Storm were left with 10 men for the remainder of the match.

Despite the setback, the Storm were still up a goal. “Parking the bus” (a style of play heavily focused on defense, as if the defending team were to “park a bus” in front of goal) seemed like the right move. And it worked. Storm defenders James Engleman and Juan Ramirez were ferocious, shutting down Ravens star striker (and the leading points-getter in the state) Leonel Bencomo Zarate.

At halftime, the Storm adjusted and became far more aggressive, especially after Ravens player Isael Dominguez scored off a corner kick with 23 minutes left to even the score at 1-1.

The game was further evened out when RGHS forward Miguel Guillermo received a red card for a hit in his team’s box. “There’s no way you were going for the ball there,” the official told Guillermo loudly when he tried to argue.

After a long, aggressive match, both teams were visibly winded, but they still had overtime ahead of them.

Unfortunately, both overtime periods were quiet and uneventful.

The sun crept behind the trees, the light dimmed, and a cold wind picked up as five players from both squads lined up at midfield and the goalkeepers took their positions for a playoff-deciding shootout.

Best of five, win or go home.

Both teams hit their first two shots, but the Storm missed their third. After the remainder of the shots hit the back of the net, the Ravens rushed the field, and a heartbroken Storm squad gathered at the sideline.

“I’m proud they came in and they came together at the end,” said Storm head coach Shaun Gill. “And I’m proud they fought [so] hard.”

CHS fought hard and nearly pulled off the famed 12-5 upset, but ending a season without a trophy is always hard.

“Hopefully this will burn a fire and simmer in their belly and their heart for next year,” said Gill. “Remember how it feels.”

The Cleveland Storm boys soccer team finished the 2024 season with a record of 11-8-2, 6-3-1 in 5A-1.

This was the final game for the seniors, including Joaquin Armijo, who was the standout player of the game, not only making save after save, but leading his team every step of the way. The Storm will certainly miss his veteran leadership next year, but they are a young squad and will hope to take this experience into next season.

“Overall, we learned a lot,” Gill said. “We’re a young team. I started five sophomores, so there’s a learning curve. I’m proud they got to this point.”

Rio Grande will move on to face No. 4 Eldorado at Eldorado at 1 p.m. Nov. 2.

Eldorado earned a 4-seed and first-round bye after going 13-4-3 in the regular season. They went 7-1-2 in 5A-2 and finished second in district, behind 1-seed La Cueva. They’ll have their hands full with a now-battle hardened Ravens squad.