Prep soccer: Ruidoso tops Portales boys

PORTALES — A pair of own goals sank Portales in Saturday afternoon’s boys soccer home match with Ruidoso. The second own goal, which occurred in the 69th minute, turned out to be the difference, in a 3-2 Warriors win.

“To be honest, we just lack a lot of discipline. I felt like that’s what really killed us,” first-year Rams coach Juan Mendez said. “We kept getting yellow cards, and then we got that red card. I feel like one of the big things right now is discipline and getting the kids to just play and realize they can’t change the outcome of a call.”

Tied at 2-2 in the 69th minute, a Christian Arrellano corner kick from the left side sailed past the Portales goal, but was deflected off of a Ram defender and in for the deciding score.

“The kids played great on both sides. My team’s very young, I have five returning players, and Portales seems pretty young, too,” Warriors coach Jaime Newsome explained. “(Portales) just handled the ball pretty good — a lot better than we did. Luck was on our side today.”

In the early going, however, luck was actually on Portales’ (0-2) side. It too was helped by an own goal, as Emanuel Macias’ seventh minute corner kick bounced off of a Ruidoso (1-2) defender’s knee, right in front of the goal.

However, a penalty kick in the 13th minute meant that the Warriors had a chance to get it right back. Arellano’s first goal of the day occurred when his PK deflected off of Portales goalie Bryan Tinajiero, and off of the rebound, Arrellano was able to easily knock it in.

Despite a Portales red card in the early stages of the second half, the Rams soon scored on a penalty kick of their own. Macias easily put it in from straight-on, tying the match at 2-2 in the 53rd minute.

Over the next several minutes the Rams had shot after shot, but just couldn’t find a way to pull ahead. Even after the second own goal, Portales could not convert, as it still looks for that first win of the young season.

The Rams will now have to wait until next week’s Roswell Tournament, which takes place on Friday and Saturday. Portales will start off with Carlsbad Friday at 4 p.m.

“I feel like it’s gonna be tough, because we’re missing people and we’ve had to sub people in (more often),” Mendez said. “It’s been hard, because I feel like every game or so, we’re losing a person, so we’re having to adjust someone who doesn’t play in that position, to play in that position. Just kind of a try it out and see, and just hope for the best.”