Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Clovis High freshman Damian Navarrette battles Lovington senior defender Alejandro Franco for control of the rock during Saturday's boys soccer match at Leon Williams Stadium. Lovington rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to edge CHS 4-3.
LAS CRUCES – Senior midfielder Aspen Ulibarri scored about 11 minutes into the second half and Clovis High's girls held on for a 1-0 win on Saturday over Organ Mountain, earning a weekend split in their trip to Las Cruces.
On Friday night, Las Cruces High punched in three early goals en route to a 3-0 victory.
Ulibarri's goal came off an assist from junior forward Natalie Griego and was her team-leading sixth tally of the campaign. Senior goalkeeper Aja Gonzales made six saves to notch her fifth shutout of the season.
In an season-opening tournament at Roswell, the Lady Cats (5-2-1) tied Organ Mountain 1-1, advancing to the semifinals on penalty kicks where they lost to Cruces 8-0. The Bulldawgs (5-0), who have outscored their opponents 35-0 this season and are ranked No. 2 in Class 5A by MaxPreps, have accounted for 11 of the 12 goals this season against CHS, with Organ Mountain (3-2-1) picking up the other.
Sophomore forward Raylene Carillo put Cruces in front in the eighth minute, while junior midfielders Mia Barela and Marisa Cervantes adding goals later in the half.
The Lady Cats were slated to travel to Artesia on Tuesday night. They host Roswell Goddard in a 6:30 p.m. start on Thursday at Leon Williams Stadium.
Cats fall to Lovington – Sophomore Alejandro Mendoza completed a hat trick with the tie-breaking goal inside the final three minutes and Lovington (5-2), the defending Class 4A state champion, posted its second narrow win over Clovis High's boys this season on Saturday at Leon Williams Stadium.
The Wildcats (2-7) opened a 2-0 lead with early tallies from freshman midfielder Denym Lodge and freshman forward Damian Navarrette, the latter off an assist from senior midfielder/defender Isai Barraza. Mendoza's first goal closed it to 2-1 at halftime, and sophomore defender Payton Hernandez put the visitors in front in the 56th minute.
"We had chances to extend the lead," CHS coach Greg Trujillo said. "We just didn't do it."
Junior forward Ihab Mesbah made it 3-3 for the Cats on his 14th goal of the season with about 4 ½ minutes remaining.
Clovis returns to action with a 5 p.m. matchup on Friday against Centennial at Leon Williams Stadium.
Hobbs JV squads edge PHS – Portales High's girls carried a 1-0 lead into halftime on Saturday, but the Hobbs junior varsity rallied back for a 2-1 win at the PHS pitch.
In the first half of the twin bill, the Hobbs JV earned a 3-1 victory over Portales.
Sophomore Maria Lujan gave the Lady Rams (2-2) the lead in the opening stanza, but they were unable to hang on against the Lady Eagles.
Hobbs JV led the boys match 1-0 at halftime. Senior forward Elijah Tellez gave the Rams (0-3-1) their only goal of the day in the second half.
PHS squads are at home on Thursday against West Las Vegas, with the girls clash set for 3:30 p.m. On Saturday, the boys welcome New Mexico Military for a noon contest.
