Demons win delayed soccer match

The clock at Santa Fe High’s multipurpose field ticked off 80 minutes, but it wasn’t a full 80 on Wednesday afternoon. A week after the season-opening boys soccer match between the Demons and St. Michael’s was halted after 15 minutes because of a thunderstorm, the teams picked up right where they left off Wednesday. The intensity was just as high, and the fast-paced, physical match ended with a 2-0 win for Santa Fe High.

The Demons scored just a couple of minutes after resuming play, as Sebastian Lopez hit from 40 yards out. The Horsemen defense did a good job of forcing Santa Fe High out of the middle of the field, but they could not muster an equalizer. Forced to push up, St. Michael’s (1-1) surrendered an insurance goal as Michael Wissman score in the 72nd minute.

Justice Johnson missed on a shot in the second half for the Horsemen and Berkeley Reynolds was inches from connecting on a header off a corner kick.

“It was a fast-paced, physical game, and it was played at a high level,” St. Michael’s head coach Mike Feldewert said. “It was just a well-played game all the way around. Some of that is the result of these kids knowing each other so well. They play on the same club teams, and they have been playing against each other for a long time. They’re friends, but competitors when they get on the field.”

Count this as Round 1, as both teams will play each other again at 10 a.m. Friday in the opening match of the Sangre de Cristo Classic at Taos’ Eco Park.

“Maybe [Santa Fe High head coach Rob Quirk] and I should have our teams bus together,” Feldewert quipped.