Clovis girls soccer cruises to win

CLOVIS — To say the Clovis girls soccer team is off to a dominant start would be understating it.

After winning Thursday night’s home opener 3-1 over Artesia at Yucca Middle School, the Lady Wildcats improved to 5-0. And they had won those five games by a combined score of 36-2.

Dominant start? You think?

“They’re playing together,” Clovis head coach Traci Sievers said. “I’ve had to move a lot of people around; we’ve had some injuries. But it seems like everybody’s willing to play like they’re adapting to adversity pretty well.”

Thursday was the closest the Lady ’Cats have come to being truly tested so far this season. After respective 5-0, 6-1 and 12-0 wins over Robertson, Kirtland Central and Bernalillo in last weekend’s Taos Tournament, Clovis kept it rolling Tuesday night with a 10-0 rout at Lovington.

Finally, the Lady Wildcats played home at the friendly Yucca confines Thursday, but this time they were facing a 5-1 Artesia team and fell behind 1-0 nearly midway through the first half, when Lady Bulldogs sophomore midfielder Abigail Rios scored on an assist from Sadi Butler.

It wasn’t until the 38th minute that Clovis tied it, getting the equalizer on a Nevaeh Coronado goal, assisted by Aydan Everett and Sofia Rico.

The Lady ’Cats, though, didn’t have to wait as long for their next goal, as Kiyrha Lilly scored off a Coronado corner kick with five seconds left before halftime, making it 2-1 Clovis.

The Lady Wildcats notched the only goal of the second half, on a Rico penalty kick in the 79th minute, to get some insurance.

Hanna Nussbaumer was the winning goalie in a game Clovis thoroughly dominated, despite the close score. The Lady ’Cats outshot Artesia 20-2 and held a 5-1 edge in corner kicks. Not bad for a team that’s seen ever-changing starting lineups this year.

“Players are open to whatever,” Sievers said, “as long as it’s good for the team.”

Saturday, Clovis played at Socorro, beginning a stretch of four consecutive road games. The Lady Wildcats don’t play at home again until Sept. 12 against Lovington.

“Don’t remind me,” Sievers said with a big laugh. “We don’t have very many home games this year. I think it’s like seven.”

So far, though, the road has been good to the Lady ’Cats.

“Yup,” Sievers said, “a good way to start.”