New Mexico Runners out to even their record Sunday at 3:05

RIO RANCHO – The Runners are back in action Sunday, Jan. 7, at 3:05 p.m. for Hispanic Heritage Day, when the Amarillo Bombers (0-1) visit the Rio Rancho Events Center.

The teams met three times last season; the Runners (0-1) won their home match with Amarillo, and Amarillo won both meetings on its indoor pitch.

The Runners seemed so determined to open their 2023-24 season with a win on Saturday, Dec. 30, only to see those hopes vanish.

A three-goal blitz by the El paso Rhinos in a mere 59 seconds in the fourth period sealed the Runners’ fate, with just over an estimated 1,000 fans on hand for Rio Rancho Community Day.

For an idea of how evenly the teams played for the first 48 minutes, the teams were tied 2-2 when the first quarter ended and 4-4 at halftime. Each team scored three times in the third period, making it 7-up heading into the final 15-minute period.

Then, with 11:43 left in regulation, the deadly Rhinos’ rally began: Edgar Perez made it 8-7, and 24 seconds later Mario Arrieta beat goalie Nate Yeager for 9-7, and just 35 seconds later, Elmer Portillo made it 10-7.

No, it wasn’t out of reach at that juncture, but the Rhinos tacked on two more goals for a convincing 12-7 lead with 49 seconds remaining.

Jaime “Chiva” Rodriguez tallied his fifth and final goal of the game 14 seconds later, only to have the Rhinos complete the game’s scoring with 23 seconds to go.

In addition to Rodriguez’s great game, the Runners’ Vince Aragon, Josh Garcia and Colton Oord also scored.

By game’s end, the Rhinos had out-shot the Runners 35-20.

Legendre enjoying the game

Wearing No. 25 for the Runners, former Cleveland High standout Nicholas Legendre was staying busy with the game he loves after his sophomore season at Notre Dame.

He’ll have one more game with the Runners, returning to South Bend on Jan. 16.

“I think high school soccer is a lot about the community and just playing with your schoolmates and, obviously, my brother (Gabe, now playing for Ft. Lewis),” he said, when asked to contrast the prep and college games.

“At the college level, it’s a lot harder and more taxing on the body,” he said. “The players are very good; you’re battling for spots all the time. I’m surrounded by great players, like, non-stop. You’re becoming a product of your environment, really.”

Indoor soccer, he added, “is a totally different game,” and even when the Runners trailed by four, “all the players thought there was still hope, and that’s all that matters, really.”

Playing in eight games again this season for the Fighting Irish, after also seeing action in eight games as a freshman, Legendre scored a goal and assisted on another in the 2023 season, which ended with a 2-1 loss to Clemson in the national championship game.

The Irish finished the season with a record of 13-3-6, making its second College Cup Final in program history along with advancing to its third College Cup ever, including second in three years. The Irish claimed the ACC Atlantic division crown after recording their first undefeated conference season (6-0-2) in program history.