Lady Cats whip Portales

The Clovis High girls soccer team knows tough matches are coming. As for Tuesday's opener against Portales at Leon Williams Stadium, the Lady Wildcats got off to a solid start.

CMI photo: Tony BullocksClovis High sophomore Angelica White works her way around Portales' Chelsea Lopez during the first half of Tuesday's match at Leon Williams Stadium.

Senior forwards Jenna Sievers and Melaya Flores each posted hat tricks and the Lady Cats pulled away with three goals late in the half en route to an 8-1 victory.

Clovis hosts Las Vegas Robertson on Saturday, then travels to a tournament in Las Cruces in which it will see virtually all Class 5A competition.

CMI photo: Tony BullocksClovis High senior Bianka Valdez battles Portales sophomore Maribel Youngerwolf for control of the ball in midfield during the teams' season-opening girls soccer match on Tuesday at Leon Willliams Stadium. CHS defeated the Lady Rams 8-1.

Coach Traci Sievers said her squad was trying to play a solid match against the short-handed Lady Rams, who were also opening the season.

"We tried to control the ball," she said. "We weren't trying to look for breakaways. We were trying to work the field.

CMI photo: Tony BullocksPortales senior Kaitlin Garrett tries to keep the ball away from Melaya Flores of Clovis in the teams' season-opening girls soccer match at Clovis. The Lady Wildcats handed PHS an 8-1 setback.

"There's some things were working on right now on defense. It's a work in progress."

The Lady Rams kept it scoreless until about the 27th minute — the stadium scoreboard was down for repairs — when sophomore Baylee Dlouhy slipped a pass ahead to Flores, who beat PHS goalkeeper Yessenia Ramirez.

Sievers added her first goal a few minutes later, scoring easily off a steal in front, and senior Jazmin Mirales followed in the closing moments by pushing a loose ball past Ramirez for a 3-0 cushion.

CMI photo: Tony BullocksPortales junior Jasmin Vega goes on the attack against Clovis' Ashley Gallagher during Tuesday's season-opening girls soccer match at Clovis

PHS coach Megan Wilson said about 20 of her girls, including several varsity members, had not completed the required five preseason practices and thus were held out.

"The score is definitely not what we wanted, but there were glimpses that gave us hope," Wilson said. "We're going to build on that and put this game behind us."

Junior Carrie Sharp made it 4-0, scoring from close range off two assists. The Lady Rams got on the board when senior Kaitlin Garrett sent a free kick to the 18-yard box and junior Damari Jimenez scored past CHS keeper Michala Ingram, but they couldn't mount anything else.

Jenna Sievers and Flores each scored twice in the remaining time.

"I feel good about our first game," Flores said. "This was a game to get us ready for Cruces. From here we'll be playing mostly 5A schools."

Flores said she and Sievers work well with the midfielders.

"I think our midfielders and forwards are really good," she said. "I think we have a good team."

Ramirez had five saves; in her defense, most of the goals against her were from almost point-blank range.

"For the most part, I thought she did well," Wilson said. "Their (Lady Cats') passing was very good, and it was hard to defend."

Portales travels to Roswell for an eight-team tournament this weekend. The Lady Rams play a first-round match on Friday and play twice more on Saturday.

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