La Cueva ‘upsets’ No. 1 Centennial
No. 8 Bears, Sandia, Cibola, AHS all advance to semis
SANTA ANA PUEBLO — A bicycle kick goal in overtime for Sandia. A couple of OTs for Albuquerque High. A definitive statement by La Cueva. A rivalry win for Cibola.
The Class 5A girls state soccer quarterfinals had all kinds of variety as the even-seeded teams — No. 2 Sandia, No. 4 Cibola, No. 6 AHS and No. 8 La Cueva — posted quarterfinal victories Wednesday afternoon at the complex on the Santa Ana Pueblo. Today’s 12:30 p.m. semifinals are La CuevaCibola and Sandia-AHS.
A flurry of first-half goals, including two by senior forward Hannah Duffy, left the previously unbeaten Hawks (19-1) dazed, and the Bears (17-2-1) completely dominated.
“It was very important to the girls,” La Cueva coach Amber Ashcraft said. “We were still a little upset about being the 8 seed.”
Duffy had goals in the 13th and 18th minutes, and sophomore defender Taryn Robles tallied in the 23rd minute.
“Duffy has amazing speed, and we were so excited to get out here on the big, grass fields
and be able to utilize that speed,” Ashcraft said.
Ironically enough, she added, the Bears played even better in the second half than they did the first 40 minutes. But that initial burst was the difference.
“We knew we needed to score quick and put a bunch of goals in the net,” Ashcraft said.
The Bears — ranked No. 1 in 5A, despite their seed — were delighted to have dispatched Centennial (ranked No. 8, despite their seed), and it ensured that an Albuquerque-area school will win the state title in the largeschool classification for the 13th consecutive season.
“We wanted to show everyone that they kind of messed up (seeding us),” said Robles. “We definitely felt we were the better team.”
La Cueva’s seed was a direct result of Eldorado’s résumé. The Eagles were seeded seventh, and since they were the District 2 champion ahead of the Bears – on the basis on a one-goal tiebreaking differential in two head-tohead games – they had to be seeded above La Cueva, according to the bylaws of the New Mexico Activities Association.
La Cueva went 0-1-1 against Cibola in the regular season. No. 2 SANDIA 2, No. 7 ELDORADO 1 (OT): The greatest goal of Hannah Gallegos’ life was one she never even saw.
The Matadors’ senior forward electrified the crowd with a bicycle kick in the 82nd minute, capping a stirring comeback win for the Matadors (15-4) over the Eagles (13-7).
“I don’t know what crossed my mind,” a smiling Gallegos said. “I could have turned and shot it, but there was not time for that.”
The OT was only possible because of a 78th-minute goal from Sydney Groth of Sandia.
On the game-winner, Kaitlin Mack pinged it in the air, and from there Gallegos did the rest.
“I’ve never even tried it in a game before,” Gallegos said. “I didn’t know it went in until people started screaming. It was definitely a moment to remember.”
But Gallegos never saw it go into the net.
“I’ve never seen a goal like that in high school soccer,” Sandia coach Jay Sheraden said. No. 6 AHS 1, No. 3 CLEVELAND 0 (2 OT): The Bulldogs mostly controlled the play, but failed to finish several prime scoring chances in regulation.
But on tired, heavy legs, AHS (14-4-1) persevered and got the game-winner in the 93rd minute, as sophomore Sabrina Reyes lifted her right leg waist-level high and swatted home the game’s only goal off a corner from teammate Rylee Martinelli.
“I was so happy,” Reyes said. “I couldn’t breathe for a second.”
It was a fitting end for the Bulldogs, who desperately wanted to avoid PKs with the Storm (12-6-1).
“We knew today was the day — we proceed or we’re done,” AHS coach Natasha Lee said. “And they did not want to be done. They were determined.” No. 4 CIBOLA 3, No. 5 VOLCANO VISTA 1: Junior forward Sydni Burrup had a hat trick in the second half as the Cougars (16-2-1) overcame a first-half deficit to the beat the Hawks (14-5-1).
She slammed home the equalizer 3 minutes into the second half from 15 yards out. Six minutes later, Cibola freshman Corinne Whitsell pressed and played a ball into the middle.
“I was on it just as two Volcano Vista defenders were closing in,” Burrup said.
She left-footed it home before they could touch it out for a 2-1 lead.
Burrup completed the hat trick in the 75th minute.