Clovis girls go 1-3 on week

CLOVIS — Sofia Rico became the new all-time goal scorer for Clovis’ girls soccer program Thursday when she netted three against Lovington, giving her 59, two better than the previous mark.

It was even sweeter that she did so at Leon Williams Stadium, a venue that may have given Rico and her teammates culture shock. When the Lady Wildcats hosted Lovington there, it was their first game on that field this season. It was also the first time the Lady ’Cats hosted a game anywhere in Clovis since playing Artesia on Aug. 29 at Yucca Middle School.

And when Clovis girls soccer cleats finally dug their way into the Williams Stadium turf on Thursday, the result was a 7-1 thrashing of Lovington, fueled by Rico’s second hat trick in the Lady Wildcats’ previous three games.

Good day for Rico. Good to be home.

“It’s nice,” Clovis head coach Traci Sievers said. “I think the girls like playing here. It’s been a while.”

Aside from Rico, Clovis goals were scored by Mika Yanez, Madeline Howalt, Chavez and Aja Gonzales.

Assists were provided by Aydan Everett (2), Rico, Raisa Walley, goalie Hanna Nussbaumer, Angelina Lopez, Chavez and Caley Adams.

Nussbaumer made four saves.

The Lady Wildcats outshot Lovington 13-5 and held a 4-0 edge in corner kicks.

Unfortunately for Clovis, the rest of the weekend didn’t go nearly as well. The Lady Wildcats were blanked 5-0 at Albuquerque on Friday and 3-0 at Eldorado on Saturday.

Tough start

The week started like it would end for Clovis’ girls, with a defeat.

In this past Tuesday’s game at Artesia, the Lady ’Cats were playing the team they had beaten 3-1 in that Aug. 29 matchup at Yucca. Tuesday, though, Clovis fell 2-1.

Luisa Chavez scored Clovis’ lone goal.

The Lady Wildcats (7-4-1) return to Leon Williams Stadium this coming Tuesday, hosting Portales at 6:30 p.m.