Lady Rams fall to Clovis

CLOVIS — After a couple of disheartening District 4-6A losses, the Clovis High girls soccer team hopes it got back on track Tuesday night.

Senior midfielder Ashley Gallagher had three goals and an assist as the Lady Wildcats pulled away after a slow start for an 8-0 win over Portales at Leon Williams Stadium.

The remaining four matches for the Lady Cats (10-4-1) are in district play — including the next three at home.

“Hopefully, this can kind of change momentum a little bit,” Lady Cats coach Traci Sievers said. “I think we’ve struggled with our confidence lately.”

Gallagher broke the ice for the Lady Cats nearly 26 minutes into the match, scoring in a scramble in front of the Portales net. She added another goal and an assist as the lead grew to 3-0 by halftime.

“It took us a while to get started,” Gallagher said. “Once we put one in, we just clicked.”

Lady Rams coach Sarah Vasquez said she wants the experience of playing larger schools to help her team get better.

“I love playing Clovis right before we get into district,” she said. “You could see our girls got that fire back again.

“I can’t wait to go into our next game (a 3 p.m. District 4/1-4A contest at East Mountain on Friday) with this much fire.”

link Staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Portales junior Kiersten Ramirez, right, battles for control of the ball against Clovis junior Jody Murdock during the first half of Tuesday’s girls soccer match at Clovis. The Lady Wildcats handed the Lady Rams an 8-0 setback.

Portales (7-7-1) is 1-0 in its three-team district with a victory over Ruidoso.

Junior forward Samantha Meza added two goals for the Lady Cats, while sophomore midfielder Jaci Sievers had a goal and an assist and senior defender Angelica Lefevre added two assists. Clovis outshot Portales 14-2 on goal and had eight corner kicks to none for the Lady Rams.

The Lady Cats host district foe Carlsbad at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

“I think it’ll boost our confidence a little bit,” Gallagher said of the win. “We lost it over the past two games (losses at Hobbs and Alamogordo), but I think after today we’ll be good.”

Tuesday

Girls

Clovis 8, Portales 0

Portales 0 0 — 0

Clovis 3 5 — 8

Scoring summary

First half

C — Ashley Gallagher (Angelica Lefevre), 25:59

C — Gallagher, 32:24

C — Samantha Meza (Gallagher), 38:33

Second half

C — Jaci Sievers (Lefevre), 42:43

C — Daisa Hastings (Gallagher), 52:48

C — S. Meza (Dani Rodriguez), 55:47

C — Gallagher, 60:18

C — Arianna Meza (Sievers), 73:35

Shots on goal — Portales 2, Clovis 14. Saves — Portales 6 (Azsjuh Howell 5, team 1), Clovis 2 (Shelby Jones 1, Hailey Brady 1). Corner kicks — Portales 0, Clovis 8. Records — Portales 7-7-1, Clovis 10-4-1). Junior varsity — Clovis 4, Portales 0.