Hobbs edges Clovis boys

CLOVIS — The Hobbs High boys soccer team has opened the season with five consecutive matches decided by one goal. Only the last two haven't gone to double overtime.

On Tuesday, the Eagles managed to improve to 4-1 for the season, outlasting Clovis High 2-1 at Leon Williams Stadium.

"It's always a tough game between Hobbs and Clovis," Eagles coach Jose Mares said. "Clovis has a tough team. It kind of came down to who had a little more possession of the ball."

Both teams missed a couple of good scoring opportunities. Hobbs took the lead for good midway through the second half when junior Zach Zavala sprinted down the right side, then shoveled a pass back to the middle to senior Daniel Silvas, who converted from about 15 yards out.

Mares said the Eagles rely on that play to do much of their damage.

"It's something we practice a lot," he said. "We drill it into the players. Last year, we got a lot of goals off it, and when we execute it's a hard play to defend."

The Wildcats (2-4), who lost 2-1 at Hobbs in double OT earlier this month, couldn't mount a charge after the goal by Silvas as the Eagles were pretty much able to play keepaway.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't convert on the chances we had," CHS assistant coach Daniel Rojas said. "When you play a team like Hobbs, we're pretty equal, but I think our guys were a little sluggish today."

Rojas said on the deciding goal, the Cats were having to rest a couple of defenders and were filling in with midfielders in the back row.

The Eagles opened the scoring in the 20th minute when junior midfielder Alan Sanchez put a corner kick in front of the net and it deflected in off a Clovis defender. The Cats tied it less than two minutes into the second half when junior midfielder Jonathen Puga beat Hobbs goalkeeper Tristan Zambrano to the left corner from about 35 yards out.

The Cats were scheduled to host Sandia Prep in a varsity-only outing on Saturday at Leon Williams Stadium. That tilt has been moved to 4 p.m. on Thursday, CHS coach Greg Trujillo said, and will be played at Yucca Middle School.

Roswell blanks Clovis girls — In Roswell, the host Coyotes scored twice late in the first half, and stopped all six Clovis shots on goal to move to 4-2 on the year.

"We had some chances," Clovis girls coach Traci Sievers said. "They're pretty tough. They've got a lot of juniors and seniors."

Mariah Bonilla opened scoring in the 29th minute, while Yajayra Castillo added the insurance goal seven minutes later.

The loss dropped Clovis to 3-3 on the season.