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Metro Tournament: Group Stage over, Knockouts coming
Junior Angeline Montoya goes on the offensive attack as hail begins to drop.
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ALBUQUERQUE (Aug. 29, 2024) — The Metro Soccer Championships completed its Group Stage last week at the APS Soccer Complex, and both RRHS and CHS now know where they will be placed for the Knockout Stage next week.
The Cleveland girls will face La Cueva in the Gold Bracket, and the boys go against Highland in their Bronze Bracket. For the Rio Rancho girls, the opponent will be Cibola in the Silver Bracket, and the boys will take on Volcano Vista in the Bronze Bracket.
CLEVELAND GIRLS (3-0)
Game 1: CHS 1, ST. PIUS 0
Game 2: CHS 3, ATRISCO 1
Game 3: CHS 2, SANDIA 0
Up Next: Gold Bracket – CHS vs La Cueva, 7 p.m. Sept. 4
The CHS girls continued their dominating ways, sweeping the group stage games and finishing with a plus-five goal differential (6 GS vs 1 GA), which was good enough to land them in the top bracket for the Knockout Stage and give them a chance to win the championship.
The Storm’s biggest challenge came in game two, when they faced off against a frisky Atrisco Heritage squad in rainy weather.
It was a gritty game that was tied 1-1 at the half. Cleveland struck first when star forward Arissa C’deBaca scored in the fifth minute of the game (senior Kiran Ahluwalia is credited with the assist). However, Atrisco returned the favor when eighth grader Alessandra Ortiz put the ball in the back of the net to even the score.
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For the rest of the half, Cleveland dominated possession and played great defense, especially senior Taylor Williamson, who made multiple tackles throughout the game. Cleveland finished the game with 18 shots on goal.
Nonetheless, the game remained tied, and having a solid game was Atrisco’s goalkeeper Dulce Olivas, who made nine saves. However, a Storm began brewing, and thunder could be heard in the distance. A mixture of hail and rain began to fall, and despite playing against the wind, the Storm began scoring goals. In the 46th minute, the C’de Baca sisters were able to connect for a goal when sophomore Aliyah C’de Baca scored off the inside post, and her sister Arissa C’de Baca was credited with the assist. The final goal came in the 56th minute courtesy of junior Angeline Montoya. Sophomore Autumn Howell made a shot on goal that nearly went true, and moments later, Montoya crashed in on the rebound and kicked the ball inside the net.
As the Storm rolled though, the referees called a weather stoppage which would eventually end the game.
With Taylor Williamson, the Storm’s star midfielder, at the helm, CHS will take on La Cueva. The Bears are the top-ranked team in the state, according to MaxPreps.
RIO RANCHO GIRLS (2-1)
Game 1: RRHS 2, Academy 0
Game 2: RRHS 3, Manzano 0
Game 3: Eldorado 3, RRHS 0
Up Next: Silver Bracket - RRHS vs Cibola, 6:45 p.m. Sept. 3
The Rams girls got off to a roaring start thanks to aggressive goal scoring from their strikers. The Rams are young and hungry with eighth grader Danae Lee and freshman Sophia Smith taking charge up front. Their strength also lies in the veteran leadership of Aubrey Pino, who has been finding the back of the net as well, including a huge goal against Manzano in the rain.
First-year head coach Jenna Sievers has her squad rolling, save a slight misstep in game three when they came out a little flat and fell in a quick hole to a formidable Eldorado team. Even so, the RRHS girls’ performance was solid and landed them in the Silver Bracket.
CLEVELAND BOYS (1-1-1)
Game 1: CHS 2, Sandia 2
Game 2: CHS 2, West Mesa 1
Game 3: Academy 3, CHS 1
Up Next: Bronze Bracket – CHS vs Highland, 6:45 p.m. Sept. 4
It was an up-and-down group stage for the Storm boys, but one thing that cannot be questioned is their heart. Well, OK, two things can’t be questioned, because they are tough as nails, and it showed. After going down 2-0 to Sandia in Game 1, Cleveland rallied to an impressive 2-2 draw.
They followed that up with a gutsy 2-1 victory over West Mesa. Despite a 3-1 loss to Academy, the Storm made the Bronze Bracket, where they will face off against Highland. If they win, and the Rams win their match, it will be an all-Rio Rancho final.
RIO RANCHO BOYS (1-2)
Game 1: St. Pius 2, RRHS 0
Game 2: Abq. High 4, RRHS 2
Game 3: RRHS 10, Valley 0
Up Next: Bronze Bracket – RRHS vs. Volcano Vista, 4:45 p.m. Sept. 4 @ 4:45 p.m.
The record says 1-2, but the goal differential tells a different story, sitting at an impressive plus-six. The Rams got off to a rough start, but that doesn’t mean the other teams in the Bronze Bracket can rest easy. RRHS won their third game 10-0 and have finally found their footing.
