Rams will be targeted after last year's run to Class 3A title match

The Portales Rams fell just short in their bid for the school's first state soccer title last fall.

Coach Brian Kirchner said, all the same, losing in the finals won't change the way his team is perceived this season. The Rams will still have a big target on their backs.

"Everybody will be gunning for us," said Kirchner, beginning his third season as head coach and fifth in the program. "We weren't the state champs, but teams will still want to take us down.

Joshua Lucero: PNT correspondent

Portales Rams seniors Mychael Sturm, front, and Zachary Blaeser race for the ball during a speed dribbling drill last week at the PHS practice field.

PHS lost in the opening round of the Class 1A-3A state tournament in 2010, but things went even better last season. The Rams (19-3) earned a first-round bye with the No. 3 seed and beat Las Vegas Robertson and Bosque to reach the title clash, where they were tripped up by Sandia Prep 3-1.

"Last year, I told (the team), 'Let's really try to get to (the quarterfinals); lets see if we can get to Albuquerque,'" Kirchner sqid. "But we definitely exceeded our goal" by reaching the finals.

Portales lost several key players from last season, but returns a good nucleus that includes senior forwards Tyler Kangas and Zach Blaeser, senior defender Brandon Jaynes and junior forward-midfielder Brandon Gomez.

"We have a lot of guys that can push the ball and score," Kirchner said.

Blaeser, as the graduated Kyle Bonem did last year, plans to be the Rams' place-kicker in football while also competing in soccer.

"I'm tired," he admitted, adding that he's looking forward to the challenge.

He said he works out with the football team at 6 a.m., and does soccer practice after school. He may also see some time at wide receiver in football.

Blaeser said the soccer team remains a work in progress.

Joshua Lucero: PNT correspondent

Brian Kirchner, right,is in his third

season as the Rams' head coach.

"We have a lot of ball-control and speed," he said. "We're still rough around the edges. We've got a lot of new people."

Hopefully, he said, the Rams make another title run.

"I didn't think we'd make it that far (last year)," Blaeser said. "During the season, everyone just came together."

The Rams open the season with a pair of home matches, facing Ruidoso at 3 p.m. Thursday and New Mexico Military at 1 p.m. Saturday.