Blue Griffins beat Dragons for 4th straight win

The defending state champs are heating up. After starting the season winless through its first four matches, the Santa Fe Prep boys soccer team has won its next four to improve to 4-2-2. The latest win came in wet and cold conditions Thursday as the Blue Griffins beat Monte del Sol 10-0 in a District 2-1A/4a match at Sun Mountain Field. The Griffins scored six times in the second half to end things a little early via the mercy rule.

Elliot Thornburg had a hat trick while Harrison Miller and Nicky Perillo each had two goals. Luke Stein registered his first goal of the season and Jack Mitchell also found the back of the net.

Trevor Wilson had the other goal but he also had five assists, a career high. Prep head coach Hersch Wilson said the team’s success was directly proportional to its health.

“This is the first time we had all of our starters healthy,” Wilson said. “That made a big difference, and they showed really good chemistry up front.”

Prep will play host to St. Michael’s at 11 a.m. Saturday at Sun Mountain Field.

GIRLS SOCCER ST. MICHAEL’S 4, SANTA FE HIGH 1

Lady Horsemen freshman Frances Schneider made Maya Chavez’s absence easier to stomach.

The midfielder had a pair of goals — one in each half — as St. Michael’s down the Demonettes in a nondistrict match at Christian Brothers Athletic Complex.

The rain made the field slick, which in turn made the play a little too sloppy for the likes of Lady Horsemen head coach Gerzain Chavez.

“Part of it was the rain, part of it was the wet grounds,” Chavez said.

Not that it mattered. Schneider’s second goal made it 2-0, St. Michael’s, then Tiana Baca and Daisy Smith finished off the scoring in the second half.

St. Michael’s improved to 7-4 overall, and return to District 2-1A/4A play against Santa Fe Prep on Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

VOLLEYBALL SANTA FE PREP 3, PECOS 0

In Pecos, the visiting Blue Griffins toyed with their lineup in preparation for unseen adversity down the road. The tactic paid off with a 25-23, 25-16, 25-23 sweep of the host Lady Panthers.

Prep (8-4) rotated different combinations in and out during the first and third games, using its normal rotation in the second game.

“We were a little sluggish at times,” said Prep head coach Kiran Bhakta.

Sam Wilson had 15 digs, eight kills, three aces and six assists to lead the way for the Blue Griffins. Raelyn Gonzales had four aces while team captain Teslin Ishee played only two games but still posted 16 digs and three assists.