Three wannabes crashing Sandia Prep’s party
Robertson, Monte del Sol, Tierra Encantada join Sundevils in semifinals
SANTA ANA PUEBLO — With one very notable exception, the Class 1A-3A boys state soccer semifinals are all about fresh new faces.
Monte del Sol, Tierra Encantada and Robertson advanced with quarterfinal victories at the Soccer Complex on Wednesday. The three schools have not won a boys soccer state title between them.
All three remain underdogs to get one this year as the fourth remaining contender is top-seeded Sandia Prep, owner of 10 boys soccer championships.
The Sundevils posted a 3-0 win over New Mexico Military and looked every bit like a program that’s played in eight of the past 10 state finals. They’ll take on No. 5 Tierra Encantada today after the Alacranes edged Hatch Valley in penalty kicks. No. 2 Robertson moved into the semis with a 2-0 victory over Bosque School and will next meet No. 3 Monte del Sol. The Dragons advanced with a 3-1 win over St. Michael’s.
Tierra Encantada coach Kurtis Montoya made no predictions about his team’s chances against Sandia Prep, but his Alacranes did live up to an earlier prediction.
“I told our players at the beginning of the year we’d be a finalfour team,” Montoya said. “It’s only our third year as a program but we were a 12 seed last year and we have 11 seniors. I believed we could get here.”
Today’s semifinals begin at 12:30 p.m. at the soccer complex. No. 1 SANDIA PREP 3, No. 9
NMMI 0: Shamus O’leary scored two goals, including an ice-breaker a minute into the game, and the Sundevils (13-9-0) controlled the second half vs. the Colts (8-10-1).
O’leary cashed in early off a pass
from Lucas Sandoval and later capped the scoring with a goal in the 77th minute.
Sandoval scored on an assist from Michael Martinez early in the second half, and the Colts were unable to get anything past Sandia Prep goalkeeper Atlee Gaddis. No. 2 ROBERTSON 2, No. 7
BOSQUE SCHOOL 0: TJ Trujillo and Musah Dumbia posted second-half goals and the Cardinals (14-5) held off the Bobcats (13-9).
Dumbia blasted a direct kick off the post that rebounded to Trujillo, who knocked it into an open net to give Robertson the lead. Cardinals goalie Blaze Payne turned aside several close calls before Dumbia scored the clincher on a penalty kick. No. 3 MONTE DEL SOL 3, NO. 6
ST. MICHAEL’S 1: Sophomore Axel Lozoya completed an impressive hat trick with two second-half goals, and the Dragons (14-3-1) ousted the Horsemen (13-8-1).
Wesley Graham’s shot from the right wing gave St. Mike’s a 1-0 lead, but Monte del Sol got even on Lozoya’s penalty kick late in the first half. Lozoya then nailed a floater from 45 yards out in the 54th minute and hooked a corner kick into the net to make it 3-1 in the 60th.
“I was just trying to put (the second goal) in the box but the keeper came out and it got over him,” Lozoya said. “The corner, I’ve been practicing those all season. That one felt good.” No. 5 TIERRA ENCANTADA 1, No. 4 HATCH VALLEY 0 (SO): Backup goalkeeper Jose Pichardo came up big for the Alacranes (13-2-0), who edged the Bears (14-6-1) in a shootout.
Pichardo was forced into goal after a knee injury to starter Julian Franco. Hatch outshot the Alacranes in regulation and overtime, but Pichardo came up with a pair of saves and converted one of his team’s penalty kicks as Tierra Encantada won the shootout 4-3.
“Sometimes you’ve got to fly like an eagle,” Pichardo said.