Tough day for Portales soccer teams at St. Mike's

SANTA FE — Two red cards, playing the first half with only 10 players and the second half with only nine, plus a dominant St. Michael’s team led to a 5-1 loss for the Portales girls soccer team on Saturday at St. Michael’s High School.

Portales head coach Ruben Tellez said via text that he planned to appeal the red cards to the New Mexico Activities Association.

The first one came at the 36-minute mark of the first half, where Tellez said a Rams player slipped and touched the ball, which the referee ruled as intentional. The second card came at the 30-minute mark of the second half when Portales’ goalie slid going for a ball and made contact.

“I will be short those starters for Tuesday (at home against Goddard),” Tellez said, “but I will appeal because not only in my eyes, but all those around, it seemed that that one ref was out to get us from the start. We touched, he blew (the whistle). They pushed, (he) let it play. Not an excuse for how we played, but something that bothers me as a coach.”

Angie Gonzalez scored Portales’ lone goal.

“It was a crazy day,” Tellez said. “I told the ladies to forget about it. It was a bad game.”

Tuesday’s game against Goddard is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

Portales boys blanked

SANTA FE — Justice Johnson scored four goals, three of them in the second half, and Berkeley Reynolds scored once as the St. Michael’s boys soccer team defeated Portales 5-0 Saturday at St. Michael’s High School.

The Horsemen led only 1-0 at halftime on Johnson’s first goal of the afternoon, but they exploded for four goals in the second half while the Rams were unable to find the back of St. Michaels’ net.

Portales goalie Brian Tinerajo notched 11 saves. St. Mike’s keeper Isiah Vigil posted seven saves and the shutout.

The Horsemen (4-4-2) had six corner kicks to the Rams’ five.

Portales (4-4) will host Artesia Thursday at 5 p.m.