Lady Cats earn berth, home match in 5A soccer playoffs

CLOVIS — Clovis High’s soccer girls have notched a berth in the Class 5A state tournament — and a home match, no less.

The Lady Wildcats (16-4) earned the No. 8 seed in the 12-team 5A playoffs, which were to begin on Tuesday night. CHS was to take on ninth-seeded La Cueva (14-6) at Leon Williams Stadium.

The top four seeds in the event were accorded first-round byes. Tuesday’s winner here was to advance to a quarterfinal clash at top-seeded Rio Rancho Cleveland this weekend.

Despite losing a tiebreaker with Hobbs for the District 4-5A title, Clovis was accorded a higher seed than the Lady Eagles (9-9-2). Hobbs was the 12th seed and played at No. 5 Cibola on Tuesday night.

Cats fall at Lovington — Clovis High’s boys saw their soccer campaign come to an end on Saturday in a 3-0 loss at Lovington.

Freshman forward Dylan Gallegos scored 11 minutes into the match and Lovington (17-2-1), ranked first in Class 4A, added second-half tallies from senior forward/midfielder Kevin Gallegos and junior forward Remy Hernandez.

Lovington has lost in each of the last two 4A finals to Albuquerque Academy. The Chargers are currently ranked second in 4A.

“It was back and forth,” CHS coach Greg Trujillo said of the match. “We moved the ball pretty well, but a lot of our shots weren’t on frame.”

Lovington had a 10-3 advantage in shots on goal. Senior D.J. Maldonado had seven saves in goal for the Cats (4-14-2).

Goddard blanks Lady Rams — At Roswell, host Goddard completed a perfect run through District 4-4A girls soccer on Saturday with a 7-0 win over Portales High in both team’s regular-season finale.

Junior forward/midfielder Lexi Pinon scored five of the goals for the Lady Rockets (13-7, 6-0 district), while senior defender Clara Hatch had the other two. Freshman goalkeeper Lissette Gomez stopped 11 Lady Rockets shots on goal for Portales (0-14-4, 0-6).

PHS coach Bonnie Britton said she thinks brighter days are ahead for her squad.

“We have some young talent,” Britton said. “If they all stay with it and develop, good things are going to happen for them.”