Lady Cats blank West Las Vegas

Warmups are over. It's time to hit the District 4-5A portion of the schedule for the Clovis High girls soccer team.

CHS improved to 10-2-1 and extended its winning streak to six on Wednesday with a 4-0 victory over West Las Vegas at Leon Williams Stadium.

Next up, the Lady Cats entertain Carlsbad (9-5) in Tuesday's 6:30 p.m. district opener.

"It's going to be tough," CHS coach Ray Rodriguez said. "It's a wide-open district. Hobbs (6-5-2) played some tough teams and beaten some good teams."

Only Roswell High (1-9-3) has struggled in pre-district play. Clovis hosts the Lady Eagles on Saturday.

Against the Class 3A Lady Dons (4-4-1), four players scored for CHS. Senior forward/defender Courtney Bradley had the night's first goal and later picked up an assist to junior forward Ava Crain off a corner kick.

"Our district is always good, but as long as we play as a team we'll be all right," Bradley said. "We have a lot to work on, but as long as we do we'll be in there."

Senior midfielder Aspen Ulibarri made it 2-0 with under five minutes left in the half while sophomore midfielder Andrea Chavez beat Lady Dons keeper Kara Morgan for a goal midway through the second stanza.

Rodriguez said he thought his squad played well overall.

"Finally, we connected as a team," he said. "That's all I've been looking for all season long."

Clovis was in control most of the way, outshooting West Las Vegas 11-2 on goal and posting a 6-1 edge in corner kicks.

Bradley said she's ready for the start of district play. Clovis tied Hobbs for the title last fall, but lost a tiebreaker based on goal differential.

"Honestly, it's anyone's district," she said. "As long as we play the way we know how to play, we'll be good. We're definitely a contender."

Roswell Goddard 3, Clovis High 0 (volleyball, Tuesday) – The Lady Rockets pulled out a pair of tight sets before dominating in the third for a 25-22, 26-24, 25-15 victory over the Lady Wildcats at Rock Staubus Gym, ending Clovis' seven-match winning streak.

"We should've been able to close out the second set," CHS coach Cristy Hill said after her squad had two set points, only to see Goddard (7-2) go on a 4-0 run at the end. "We trailed most of Game 1, but we led most of Game 2."

Senior outside hitter Kailyn Jefferson posted 19 kills for the Lady Cats (9-3), but the next highest in that category was junior setter Amanda De La Rosa with five.

"Kailyn is going to get her kills, which is awesome," Hill said. "We have to have more hitters step up."

De La Rosa finished with 31 assists, while senior outside hitter/defensive specialist Aeryanne Conn had 27 digs. Junior defensive specialist Jori Mondragon added 12 digs and a pair of aces, and senior outside hitter Elizabeth Warwick had three blocks.

"Our serve-receive was really good," Hill said. "I didn't feel like Goddard hurt us that much with their serve."

Clovis was in Portales over the weekend for the eight-team Peyton Chavez Invitational at the RAC. In Friday's pool play for seeding purposes, the Lady Cats were bracketed with Texico, Melrose and Taos.

Championship and consolation semifinals and finals were on tap for Saturday.

Clovis and Portales will meet on Tuesday in a 6:30 p.m. contest at The Rock.

Lady Rams fall to Robertson – Portales High's dropped a 2-0 decision to Robertson in a girls soccer match played on Tuesday. The Lady Cardinals improved to 2-7 for the season while the Lady Rams fell to 4-3-1.

PHS was slated to begin District 4-4A action on Saturday at Artesia. On Thursday, the Lady Rams host Lovington at Greyhound Stadium.