Cats top Coyotes, await 5A soccer selections

With a 14-5 overall record, which includes five one-goal defeats with three in overtime, the Clovis High boys soccer team believes it deserves a spot in the upcoming Class 5A state tournament.

For now, though, the Wildcats just have to wait.

Selections will be made today by the New Mexico Activities Association and, despite their record, the Cats entered the week ranked 15th. They last made the 5A state meet in 2018, when they reached the semifinals.

The biggest question mark for Clovis is its overall strength of schedule.

“We’re just happy if we get in,” CHS coach Greg Trujillo said after Thursday’s 2-0 win over District 4-5A champion Roswell High at Leon Williams Stadium. “We hope we can get in because of our record.”

CHS (3-3 district), which loses only five seniors to graduation, played one of its better all-around matches of the season, generally stifling the Coyotes’ attack and getting just enough offense to win.

Sophomore forward/midfielder Damian Navarrette put the Cats in front just over 24 minutes into the contest, taking a pass from junior forward/midfielder Anthony Quinones, driving up the left side and beating Coyotes sophomore keeper Axel Sanchez. They wrapped it up in the final two minutes when senior forward Ihab Mesbah found junior defender Alan Lopez for an insurance tally.

“I think we should make it to state, and if we do we plan on winning it,” said Mesbah, who has 28 goals and 14 assists this season. “We played with a lot of energy. If we keep playing like this, we’ll have a chance at state.”

The Cats held Roswell High (14-5-1, 4-1-1), which won the district title over Hobbs (13-6-1, 4-1-1) on a tiebreaker with a win and a tie against the Eagles, to just two shots on goal.

“Defensively, we did what we had to do,” Mesbah said.

Senior keeper Angel Avila was never seriously threatened by the Coyotes.

“When we played them over there, they were a little more aggressive, and we didn’t take care of the ball,” Trujillo said. “Our defense was really good (tonight). We’ve been working on trying to play a little quicker.”

The Cats, who posted their sixth shutout of the campaign, had a 3-0 edge in corner kicks.

Lady Cats fall in finale – At Roswell, the Lady Coyotes got a hat trick from senior Bryana Castro and two goals and two assists from senior Kaydence Lopez in rolling to a 5-0 win over the Lady Cats, who wrapped up their season at 5-13-2 (1-5).

Roswell High (11-9, 4-2) opened a 4-0 lead in the first half. The Lady Coyotes finished second in the district behind Hobbs (17-3, 6-0).