Cats play Eagles tough in loss

Clovis High’s boys knew they had their work cut out in Saturday’s District 4-5A match against top-ranked Hobbs, but even in defeat the Wildcats came away feeling pretty good about their performance.

Senior forward/midfielder Franklin Ferrufino notched a hat trick in the final 11 minutes, and the Eagles (19-0, 5-0 district) needed it to put away the Cats 5-1 at Leon Williams Stadium.

Down 2-0 at the half, Clovis junior forward Ihab Mesbah cut the margin in half with his 24th goal of the season about 11 minutes into the second stanza off an assist from senior midfielder/defender Isai Barraza. That score held until Franklin found the back of the net at the 69:44 mark.

He added two goals in the final two minutes to seal the deal.

CHS coach Greg Trujillo said the Cats (6-12-1, 1-3-1) should not have given up the final two tallies.

“It should’ve been 3-1,” he said. “We gave up some goals because of lack of concentration.”

Earlier this month, the Eagles ran roughshod over the Cats, winning 9-1 in Hobbs.

“We played better,” Trujillo allowed. “Next year’s looking good for us. I think we’ll be a whole lot better.”

Hobbs got a goal from senior forward Zander Castillo in the second minute and another from senior forward/midfielder Jordan Barron near the midpoint of the half.

The Cats wrap up district and regular-season play on Thursday at Roswell High.

Hobbs 2, Clovis 0 (Saturday, girls soccer) – At Hobbs, senior forward Hannah Davila and senior defender Sophia Villalobos scored first half goals and the Lady Eagles (11-6-2, 5-0) locked up the district championship.

Senior Aja Gonzales made 13 saves for the Lady Wildcats (12-5-1, 2-3), who were outshot on goal by the Lady Eagles 15-2.

The Lady Cats host Roswell High in a 6:30 p.m. encounter on Thursday to wrap up the regular campaign.

Rams, Lady Rams blanked in district tilts – Lovington scored four first-half goals on Saturday en route to a 5-0 District 4-4A girls soccer victory over Portales at Lovington.

Junior defender Pryzyla Venegas scored four goals for the Lady Wildcats (4-12-1, 3-2) district and assisted on the fifth tally, by junior defender Kiarra Reza. Junior goalkeeper Pryzyla Venegas made four saves for Lovington, while sophomore keeper Lissette Gomez had five for Portales.

In boys action at the PHS pitch, Roswell Goddard (11-7-1, 3-2) posted a 4-0 victory over the Rams (2-11-1, 1-4).

Both PHS squads wrap up the season on Thursday, with the girls hosting Goddard at 5 p.m. at Greyhound Stadium and the boys traveling to Artesia.