Lady Cats can't hold lead

CNJ staff photo: Eric Kluth/Clovis’ Jenna Meyer, right, battles Roswell’s Emily Smith for the ball during Saturday’s game off the Clovis Invitational at the Yucca Soccer Complex.

Buoyed by their first goal — and lead — of the season, the Clovis High Lady Wildcats had some early momentum against Roswell High in Saturday’s fifth-place match of CHS’ invitational at Yucca Soccer Complex. Unfortunately, they couldn’t build on it.

Roswell broke a 1-1 tie with two goals in a 27-second span early in the second half, and the Lady Coyotes were in complete command the rest of the way in posting a 5-1 victory.

Both teams have young squads and entered the match winless.

“Usually if someone (else) scores first, it seems like they have an advantage,” Roswell coach Fernando Sosa said. “I know it’s hard to come back from a one-goal deficit, and especially a two-goal deficit.”

Myrna Campos scored two goals for Roswell (1-4), which became a more free-wheeling team after goals by Meagan Corn and Campos broke the game open. Corn broke in from the left side of the penalty box and lifted the ball over Lady Cats goalie Jessica Doss with 33:16 left in the match, then Campos scored into an open net to make it 3-1 when Doss smothered a shot but couldn’t gain control of the ball.

Junior forward-midfielder Melissa Ridge put the Lady Cats (0-4) in front with just three minutes and 11 seconds gone.

That held up until Doss miss hit the ball trying to kick it out of the box. Marisol Campos, Myrna’s cousin, was the fortunate recipient and lofted the ball over Doss to tie the score near the midway point of the half.

First-year coach Larry Jones was disappointed with the loss, but not discouraged.

“It’s starting to come — it’s very slow, but things are starting to come together,” Jones said. “I think getting that goal made a difference. (Scoring) gives the girls something to shoot for.”

Alyssa Hickey and Campos added goals for Roswell in the final 20 minutes.

Clovis lost to Moriarty 6-0 and Aztec 8-0 Friday in pool play.

“For the first half, and about three or four minutes of the second half, we played good soccer,” Jones said. “Then we reverted back into just kicking the ball and not passing it to a teammate.”

St. Michael’s beat Moriarty 3-0 in the championship game of the six-team tournament.