Prep soccer: Colts top Portales boys 4-3

ROSWELL — For the third time this year, Portales’ boys soccer team was close, but no cigar against NMMI. The Rams rallied in the second half from a two-goal deficit, but in the end the Colts scored a late goal to defeat Portales for a third time, 4-3.

“We have played NMMI three times this season, and each time, we’ve gotten closer,” Rams coach Juan Mendez explained. “The NMMI coach (John Barbour) told me, ‘No more, you guys keep getting closer and closer.’”

The Colts (5-5) had a 3-1 halftime lead, before the Rams stormed back in the second half to tie it up. However, a late goal handed it to NMMI, dropping the Rams to 2-8 on the season.

Once again, injuries forced the Rams into a musical chairs situation, and this time around, it especially affected them. Forward Josiah Tellez, who is arguably one of Portales’ two best players, got hit in the throat during Tuesday’s loss to NMMI. That kept him out for Saturday’s road rematch, along with a handful of other Rams.

“To be honest, I’m very proud of the boys,” Mendez said. “We worked hard in the second half and we almost forced a tie.”