Cats looking to finish

The Clovis High boys soccer team split a pair of 3-2 decisions with District 4-5A rival Hobbs last year, each team winning on the road.

The district championship thus came down to who had a bigger goal margin against last-place Carlsbad, and the Wildcats fell a little short.

CMI photo: Kevin WilsonKouser Rideson, right, tries to make a move around Clovis High alumni defender Marcus Lewis, a 1998 CHS graduate, during Saturday's alumni scrimmage at Yucca Complex. The Wildcats open their season today at Roswell High.

CHS went 13-8 overall last year, losing to Gadsden in the first round of Class 5A state competition, but fifth-year coach Greg Trujillo hopes that by winning the district title this year the Cats can get a better postseason seed.

"We had Hobbs down a couple of times, but we couldn't finish off the game (at Clovis)," Trujillo said. "I think we've got a good chance (this year).

"I think it'll be between us and Hobbs. Carlsbad lost their goalkeeper, which was a big key to their success."

CMI photo: Kevin WilsonBrandon Sakach threads a pass by a pair of Clovis alumni defenders during Saturday's matchup at Yucca Complex.

The Cats open the 2012 season today with a trip to Roswell High.

Trujillo will build around 11 seniors. He said summer scrimmages in Albuquerque against some of the better teams in the state let the Cats know where they stand.

"We're a little undersized," Trujillo said, "but it seems like the team chemistry is pretty good."

He said the midfield is an area of concern.

"Most of the starting defenders are back," he said. "We've had to fill some midfield spots.

"We've had some kids move up from the junior varsity level at the forward positions, and we'll see if they can adjust to the speed of the game on the varsity."

Senior Frankie Hernandez, who tied for the team lead in goals last year, returns at a forward position. Other key returning seniors include forward midfielder Saul Blanco, midfielder Lucas Donaldson and defenders Mackenzie Chastain, Luis Calderon and Christian Hernandez.

Another senior, Nicholas Volker, has been moved from forward to help out in the midfield.

"I like this position a lot," he said. "I think my strength is passing the ball. I'm more involved in the game because I can pass and distribute the ball more."

Trujillo said he tried to toughen up the schedule a little, noting that the Cats have a mid-September trip to play La Cueva and Albuquerque High.

"It'll be good to see how we do against those teams," he said. "We've got a lot of speed. The biggest thing is to see if we can finish."

Volker said the Cats have high hopes, but taking care of business in the district comes first.

"We want to win district this year," he said. "We want to win our district every year."

SCHEDULE

August

21 — at Roswell High, 6 p.m.; 25 — Alamogordo, 3 p.m.; 29 — at Alamogordo, 6 p.m.; 31 — at Los Alamos tournament.

September

1 — at Los Alamos tournament; 6 — at Portales, 3 p.m.; 11 — New Mexico Military at Yucca, 6 p.m.; 14 — at La Cueva, 4:30 p.m.; 15 — at Albuquerque High, 10 a.m.; 22 — Rio Rancho Cleveland, 3 p.m.; 25 — at LV Robertson, 5 p.m.; 28-29 — at Sandia Prep tournament.

October

6 — Rio Rancho, 3 p.m.; 11 — at Artesia, 6 p.m.; 13 — Hobbs, 3 p.m.-x; 16 — Carlsbad at Yucca, 6 p.m.-x; 20 — at Carlsbad, 3 p.m.-x; 27 — at Hobbs, 3 p.m.-x.

x-Denotes District 4-5A game.

Combined shots