RRHS girls soccer team begins scrimmages

Last week, the Rio Rancho High School girls soccer team played scrimmages in preparation for the upcoming season.

“Today, we’re just doing some pick up games. Gives us the chance to see players in some different spots especially the new girls,” head coach Jenna Sievers said June 12.

Sievers was named the head coach a couple of months ago and will be the Rams' third head coach in three years (Michael Gonzales in 2023; Todd Doss in 2022).

“We really want to emphasize attitude, work ethic and respect. Just instilling those main focal points; if the girls are doing those, then it will lead to some successful sessions which should lead to some success on the field this season,” Sievers said.

However, there is a ton of familiarity with the program since she was the assistant varsity coach under Gonzales. Returning coaches include assistant Joshua Trujillo and Kristen Lopez.

Three scrimmages were being played at once: one game with full-sized nets and two smaller-sized games. Every player rotated because, for the coaches, it was all about reps and seeing new looks.

“I want to see our girls enhance our communication and team chemistry,” senior Makenna Blanton said.

PHOTOS: 2024 Ram girls soccer scrimmages

Blanton is a Swiss army knife who plays wing and forward for RRHS and center back for her club.

“We have lots of hope this season, lots of girls coming in, and it’s great to see girls come out and support,” Blanton said.

Throughout the games, the girls were making tackles, taking shots from the outside and showing support for one another.

“I’ve been in this program since eighth grade; I want to help the younger girls get to their highest potential and grow myself,” junior Nori Timmons said.

Timmons shouted out former RRHS soccer standouts Maya Romero and Olivia Roskos as great leaders and as people who were extremely kind to the new girls.

Specifically, she recalled a time when Roskos was there for her: “I remember on one of my first days, I was just having a hard time. She kept telling me, ‘It’s OK, it’ll be OK, keep going.’”

Roskos and Romero graduated from RRHS in 2023.

Roskos is now playing collegiately at UTEP, where she played 1,040 minutes as a freshman and was a starter in all 16 appearances.

Romero, on the other hand, had 51 career goals for RRHS, including a 26-goal senior season. She is now playing collegiately at CSU Pueblo.

RRHS is looking to move past the 2023 season in which it finished with a 6-13-1 record and establish a culture. Everyone seems more than willing to do their part.

“Rio Rancho is really going to show ourselves this year. The past few years might not have been great, but we are going to change that,” Timmons said.