New Mexico Runners’ season ends same way it started

RIO RANCHO – Maybe next year.

The New Mexico Runners closed out their worst season of five to date, falling in their season finale, 8-6, on St. Patrick’s Day to the visiting Wichita Wings, the Midwest Division champion.

Heading into what team owner Andres Trujillo tabbed the “Nickel Season,” the team’s fifth in Rio Rancho, there were high hopes for at least five wins, after four in each of the first four seasons.

But the Runners (1-11) lost their first four games, beat Kansas, 9-8, in overtime on Jan. 28 at the Rio Rancho Events Center, and then lost their final seven games.

Although the Wings opened the scoring with a goal in the first minute, the Runners tallied the next three, with Michael Stephens scoring twice, sandwiched around a goal by Nicholas Cashmere, on which Stephens drew an assist.

The teams combined for six goals in the second period – three each – and the Runners had a 5-4 lead at intermission, during which fans were entertained by a short celebrity soccer game.

But the Wings went on to score four of the second half’s five goals, with Cashmere assisting on the Runners’ only second-half goal, by Terry Zamora, which led to the last lead for his team (6-5).

The Runners’ sixth season will kick off in December.