Top boys team in the state? Rankings say it’s Los Lunas
As they try to focus on being the best in Class 4A, Tigers breathing rare air
LOS LUNAS — They might best be described as outliers, these Los Lunas Tigers.
At least, temporarily.
In the nearly 40 years of boys state soccer tournament activity in New Mexico, there has been any number of notable one-off performances, schools that authored a singular, memorable championship season. Bernalillo is on that list. Aztec, too. Roswell, Alamogordo, Capital, Chaparral — they’re all members of the club.
And, going back to 1983 — when this sport was in its infancy in New Mexico — so is Los Lunas High.
But most New Mexicans outside of this village, and maybe even many people who live inside of it, are unaware that according to MaxPreps.com, the current toprated boys soccer team in the state, in any classification, is the Tigers.
“I kind of tell (my team), you have to embrace this,” said Los Lunas coach Eric Chavez. “Don’t focus on it, but let’s not act like it’s not there.”
Oh, it’s there.
Los Lunas carries a higher rating than big-school powers Albuquerque High and Cleveland, and reputable peers in their own class (4A), like St. Pius and Albuquerque Academy, private schools that often set the benchmark.
And the most recent MaxPreps national poll — which, practically speaking, has no real relevance, beyond the uniqueness of the notice — has Los Lunas ranked No. 18 in the country.
“We can’t let it get to us,” said Tigers senior striker Jordan Arballo, one of the most adept goal scorers in 4A, with 10 already this season. “We have to stay humble.”
The 7-0 Tigers’ in-state ranking is largely built on victories over the teams ranked Nos. 9-12 on list: Los Alamos, Bosque School, Sandia Prep and Clovis.
How have they done it? With tactical precision, depth and talent, among other things. And, for the returning players, a pressing need to follow up on a 2018 postseason that produced perhaps the best win in the program’s history — and yet also ended with a giant thud after a seven-goal loss in the semifinals.
For the moment, Los Lunas remains something akin to a guest in a hotel. Do the Tigers have the legs for a long-term stay? They might need to take that next step before perceptions from outside the program change.
While Los Lunas does have a blue trophy in boys soccer, one could argue that the program’s best overall season was last year. Although Los Alamos crushed the Tigers in the semis, Los Lunas reached that round by toppling No. 1 St. Pius, a district rival, in the quarterfinals.
That was perhaps the impetus for the offseason that followed, and the root to this perfect start.
“They started realizing, ‘Hey, we can actually do this,’ Chavez said. “I want to say it made them realize they can achieve possibly a state title.”
To accomplish that, the Tigers very likely must go through some combination of the foundation programs in 4A: St. Pius, Los Alamos and Academy. When Los Lunas visits St. Pius on Oct. 1 — the Sartans are ranked No. 2 in Class 4A — the picture will gain some focus.
“We know how to play with each other, and we know how each other plays, and our chemistry is really good,” said Arballo. “The (St. Pius win at state last year) gave us confidence, and really brought up who we were as a team and what we’re capable of doing.”
In the meantime, Los Lunas is breathing unfamiliar air.
“We’re embracing the attention we’re receiving,” Chavez said. “You can’t keep them away from it, anyway. We just focus on doing what we’re doing, the things that got us here.”
Still, Chavez admits, there is a “newfound celebrity” factor that goes along with this rapid rise of the program.
“Our senior class wants to do more than last year, so we’re trying to step up as much as we can and perform,” said senior midfielder Bryan Tarango. “At the end of the day, we’re just trying to get that state final win.”
The state final is two months off. “They want it badly,” Chavez said. “And I think we have a good shot at it. We’re excited for the season and to see what lies ahead. I just can’t wait. And I don’t think they can, either. I can see it in their eyes. This is a special group of kids.”