Sol set to host league-leading Rapids U-23

Albuquerque to put emphasis on eliminating errors

As sun light faded on the green grass at St. Pius High at practice earlier this week, the Albuquerque Sol competed in cone-marked quadrants in a possession battle. The offense was trying to string passes together while the defense looked to induce turnovers. The loser received punitive wind sprints.

The Sol will need a disciplined defensive effort and composure in possession when it hosts the league-leading Colorado Rapids U23 (6-0-2) today at St. Pius and Saturday at UNM Soccer Stadium. Both games kick off at 7:30 p.m.

“We’re good when we finish, and we have to make a conscious effort to keep our lines tight and stay organized,” Sol coach Justin Sells said. “Communication is key, guys knowing their responsibilities.”

Albuquerque (3-5-1) sits fourth in the Premier Development League Mountain Division with 10 points from nine games. The Rapids U23 have a four-point cushion and game in hand atop the division, earning 20 points from eight games. They’ve scored 25 goals and conceded just nine. Entering this week’s action, that 3.125 goals-per-game average is the PDL’s best.

Meanwhile, the Sol has allowed 23 goals in nine games, and its 2.56 goals allowed average is the worst in the PDL’s Western Conference.

UNM Lobo senior goalkeeper Ford Parker also backstops the Sol. He keyed on decision-making on the ball.

“Playing out of bad areas will get you in trouble,” Parker said. “Most of the goals we conceded came from mistakes.”

The Sol will be without a mainstay at centerback as Dillon Nino left the team to sign his first professional contract with a team in Zimbabwe.

“We’re pretty confident in guys that can replace Dillon. It becomes a matter of whether or not they can keep everything organized,” Sol general manager Larry Espinoza said.

The Sol will likely turn to Albuquerque Academy alum Alex Touche or Sol veteran Pat Pacheco to fill Nino’s spot.

“What worked for us is to work as a unit, instead of just individuals,” Pacheco. “This season we’ve shown some inconsistency. We tend to turn off. Mentally, it’s the biggest challenge seeing the whole game through. We’ve given up some cheap, easy goals.”

Rapids U23 has four players listed in the PDL’s 2018 Top 50 Prospect List including two forwards (Griffin Dorsey and Andre Shinyashiki) and midfielder Moshe Perez. Shinyashiki leads the team with seven goals and three assists in only five games. Dorsey has chipped in four goals and two assists.

The teams met twice in Denver at the beginning of June with the Rapids winning 5-1 before a 1-1 draw.

“We’ll play our system. We won’t change our setup that much,” Sells said. “Maybe give some other players opportunities.”

After playing just once last week, the Sol closes its 2018 campaign with five games in 17 days. However, four of those are at home split between St. Pius and UNM.

“When we train, we train pretty hard,” Sells said. “We’ll probably have to taper that off, that will be based on results.”