Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
BELEN – Clovis High’s soccer teams posted a road sweep on Saturday, the boys beating Belen 6-1 while the girls notched a 5-0 whitewashing of the Lady Eagles.
In the boys’ match, five players contributed to the scoring column for the Wildcats (4-9), who won back-to-back outings for the first time this season. Junior forward Ihab Mesbah scored a pair of goals and also had an assist as the Cats broke it open after leading 3-1 at halftime.
“They were fairly young and inexperienced,” CHS boys coach Greg Trujillo said of the Eagles (1-10). “The field was slow – the grass was really high and we had to adjust.”
Senior midfielder/defender Isai Barraza and freshman midfielder Denym Lodge scored in the first 10 minutes for Clovis. After junior midfielder Jaret Fernandez put the Eagles (3-8) on the board, Mesbah gave the Cats a 3-1 lead at the break with his first tally.
Mesbah’s second goal came early in the second half. Freshman forward Damian Navarrette added a penalty-kick goal several minutes later, and eighth-grader Josiah Trujillo (no relation to the coach) capped the scoring with his first high school tally in the 55th minute.
Mesbah and Lodge each had an assist in the match.
The goal by Fernandez was Belen’s only shot on goal in the match. Meantime, the Cats pumped 15 shots into the scoring zone.
Saturday, Clovis plays its final non-district tilt against Taos in a 2 p.m. start at Leon Williams Stadium.
“We’re trying to prepare for district,” Trujillo said. “We’re playing a lot better defensively. Our communication is better and our positioning is better.”
Girls – Junior forward/midfielder Natalie Griego netted a pair of goals as the Lady Wildcats (9-2-1) earned their fifth win in a row.
It could’ve been worse, CHS girls coach Ray Rodriguez said.
“We had so many shots come off the top bar and the side post,” he said. “But we’re still a makeshift team (due to injuries), so it’s hard to build any kind of rhythm. We have some girls playing out of position.”
Senior midfielder Aspen Ulibarri put Clovis on the board about 12 minutes in, and senior defender/midfielder Courtney Bradley, who assisted on the first gale, tallied in the 18th minute for a 2-0 halftime lead.
In the second half, Griego scored twice around a goal by junior forward Ava Crain. Senior keeper Aja Gonzales collected four saves for the Lady Cats.
Clovis wraps up non-district play with a 6:30 p.m. battle against West Las Vegas today at Leon Williams Stadium. The Lady Cats begin their District 4-5A slate on Tuesday against Carlsbad, also at home.
