Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Staff photo: Kevin Wilson Clovis eighth-grader Sofia Rico and Alamogordo sophomore goalkeeper Reagan Dorman watch Rico’s shot, which bounced in off the left bar for the second goal of Saturday’s District 4-6A girls soccer match at Leon Williams Stadium. Clovis, which took a 4-0 victory and won the district title when Carlsbad beat Hobbs 2-0 later on Saturday, visits Volcano Vista in a 5 p.m. Class 6A first-round state match today.
Sports writer
If they want to advance to next week’s Class 6A state soccer quarterfinals, Clovis High’s squads will have to do it on the road.
link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson
Clovis eighth-grader Sofia Rico and Alamogordo sophomore goalkeeper Reagan Dorman watch Rico’s shot, which bounced in off the left bar for the second goal of Saturday’s District 4-6A girls soccer match at Leon Williams Stadium. Clovis, which took a 4-0 victory and won the district title when Carlsbad beat Hobbs 2-0 later on Saturday, visits Volcano Vista in a 5 p.m. Class 6A first-round state match today.
The Wildcats (15-5), seeded 11th in the 12-team field, open the boys tourney with a 6 p.m. matchup today at sixth-seeded Sandia, while the 10th-seeded Lady Wildcats (13-4-3) face No. 7 Volcano Vista in a 5 p.m. start.
For the boys, it’s their fourth trip in the last six years to the state meet. They’re still looking for their first win.
Eighth-year coach Greg Trujillo said his team faced Sandia in a summer tournament in Albuqurque and played the Matadors to a 3-3 tie.
“It’s going to come down to who makes the least mistakes,” Trujillo said. “If we can take care of the ball and take advantage of opportunities, and don’t get distracted, we’ll have a chance.”
CHS has an 8-2 road record; meantime, the Matadors (10-6-2) are 5-3-1 at home.
“When we travel, we play a little more focused,” Trujillo said.
The top player for Sandia is junior forward-midfielder Shamach Broussard, who has five goals and seven assists. Junior forward Marco Fernandez has added seven goals and four assists.
“(Broussard) is really good with the the ball,” Trujillo said.
The teams have three common foes — Cibola, Highland and Santa Fe Prep. The Cats went 2-1, losing to Cibola, while the Matadors were 2-2-1, beating Highland twice and losing to Cibola twice.
It’s likely this will become a more regular matchup in the future. The Cats and Matadors are expected to be in a new six-team district beginning next season, Trujillo said.
The Lady Cats are making their second consecutive state trip under fifth-year coach Traci Sievers. Last year, they lost at Cibola 2-0 in the first round.
The Hawks (12-5-1) and Lady Cats have played two common foes. Volcano Vista, fourth in District 6-1A at 4-4, blasted last-place Santa Fe High twice.
“They play a similar style to us,” Sievers said. “We know it’s going to be a good game, but if we capitalize on our opportunities we’ll have a good chance of winning.”
Quarterfinals are set for next Thursday at the APS soccer complex in Albuquerque. With wins today, the Cats would face third-seeded Albuquerque High while the Lady Cats would take on No. 2 La Cueva.
CLASS 6A
(Seeds in parentheses)
BOYS
First round
Friday
(11) Clovis at (6) Sandia, 6 p.m.
(12) Gadsden at (5) Las Cruces High, 7 p.m.
Saturday
(9) Eldorado at (8) Cibola, 11 a.m.
(10) Hobbs at (7) Rio Rancho Cleveland, 1 p.m.
At APS Complex, Albuquerque
Times TBA
Thursday’s quarterfinals
(1) La Cueva vs. Eldorado-Cibola winner
(4) Atrisco Heritage vs. Gadsden-Las Cruces High winner
(3) Albuquerque High vs. Clovis-Sandia winner
(2) Rio Rancho vs. Hobbs-Rio Rancho Cleveland winner
Nov. 6 semifinals
La Cueva-Eldorado-Cibola winner vs. Atrisco Heritage-Gadsden-Las Cruces High winner
Albuquerque High-Clovis-Sandia winner vs. Rio Rancho-Hobbs-Rio Rancho Cleveland winner
Nov. 7 championship
Semifinal winners
GIRLS
First round
Friday
(10) Clovis at (7) Volcano Vista, 5 p.m.
Saturday
(11) Hobbs at (6) Rio Rancho Cleveland, 10 a.m.
(9) Sandia at (8) Las Cruces High, 1 p.m.
(12) Carlsbad at (5) Cibola, 1 p.m.
At APS Complex, Albuquerque
Times TBA
Thursday’s quarterfinals
(1) La Cueva vs. Sandia-Las Cruces High winner
(4) Rio Rancho vs. Carlsbad-Cibola winner
(3) Albuquerque High vs. Hobbs-Rio Rancho Cleveland winner
(2) Eldorado vs. Clovis-Volcano Vista winner
Nov. 6 semifinals
La Cueva-Sandia-Las Cruces High winner vs. Rio Rancho-Carlsbad-Cibola winner
Albuquerque High-Hobbs-Rio Rancho Cleveland winner vs. Eldorado-Clovis-Volcano Vista winner
Nov. 7 championship
Semifinal winners
