Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Clovis High sophomore Ihab Mesbah advances the ball down the left side during the second half of Saturday's boys soccer match against Artesia at Leon Williams Stadium.
CLOVIS - Statistically, Artesia dominated the match. Still, the Clovis High boys soccer team gave itself a fighting chance down the stretch.
Senior forward Cameron Thorp scored a pair of goals and the Bulldogs hung on late for a 2-1 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday at Leon Williams Stadium.
Artesia (8-3) outshot the Cats 13-2 on goal, but a tally by sophomore forward Ihab Mesbah on a scramble in front of the net gave Clovis (3-6-1) life with about 13 minutes left.
"We had our chances; we just couldn't finish," CHS coach Greg Trujillo said. "We're going to struggle throughout the whole year as long as we can't win those first and second balls."
Thorp put Artesia in front in the 35th minute by converting a penalty kick, then broke down the left side and scored past CHS goalkeeper D.J. Maldonado from a tough angle early in the second segment.
Maldonado collected nine saves and helped keep the Cats within striking range.
The Bulldogs were coming off a loss to Ruidoso two days earlier.
"Arguably, the last two games have been (among) our best as far as the team game," Artesia coach Phillip Jowers said. "In the beginning of the year we struggled to score the ball, but it's all about how you progress your game."
He said he enjoys playing against the Cats and Trujillo.
"His boys are always classy and respectful," Jowers said.
The Cats were scheduled to host Portales High on Tuesday, but the match was canceled by mutual agreement. Clovis returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Belen in a doubleheader, beginning with the girls matchup at 11 a.m.
Rams win big, Lady Rams edged - The PHS boys got on the winning track in a big way on Saturday, mercy-ruling West Las Vegas 10-0 at Las Vegas, N.M.
Senior Eduardo Santos scored three goals and added a pair of assists for Portales (2-3), while sophomore Elijah Tellez added two goals and three helpers. Meantime, sophomore Anthony Cordova punched in a pair of tallies, and juniors Toby Standifer and Emmett Saiz and sophomore Gabriel Duran netted one apiece against the Dons, who were playing their season opener.
Meantime, senior forward Jacelyn Morgan scored a first-half goal and it held up as the Lady Dons (2-3) posted a 1-0 victory over Portales.
The Lady Rams (0-5-1) return to action on Thursday at Ruidoso, while the boys host New Mexico Military at 1 p.m. on Saturday in their next outing.
