Coverage of the 1A-3A and 4A semifinals, plus summaries and schedules
Socorro stands in way after semis win
SANTA ANA PUEBLO — It’s a rematch a couple of years in the making.
While Sandia Prep looks for a fourth straight Class 1A-3A girls state soccer championship on Friday at the soccer complex, Socorro seeks its first in school history after reaching the title game in 2017 only to lose to the Sundevils. No. 1 SANDIA PREP 4, No. 4
BOSQUE SCHOOL 0: Although the Bobcats (9-6-2) are a familiar foe for the Sundevils (21-1), Sandia Prep had little trouble with its district rival. Again.
Sandia Prep won the two district meetings by a combined 7-0 tally and just brought more of the same.
“I think we learned, we really analyzed how they played, and how we play is really important in these games, said Isa Gilbert, who scored twice. “We really just relied on what we thrived on; our passing, moving through the field smoothly, our balls through. And goals and finishing …”
Gilbert, who struggled to make an impact Wednesday in the sloppy downpour, had few issues against the Bobcats.
“Thanks to the help of my team. I couldn’t have done it without them,” she said. “I’m really happy that we’re here and we have this opportunity to go on to the finals.”
Gilbert got the scoring going in the 13th minute, taking a pass from Maddie Hashagen, who had a hat trick Wednesday, then slotting it into the corner. In the 30th minute, Gilbert returned the favor, feeding Hashagen for a score.
And five minutes before the half, Gilbert was clocked from behind for a foul and polished off the direct kick, looping it over the wall for the crusher.
“I think one of the biggest things we had to overcome early in the game was just the elements. It was just a wet field,” said Sundevils coach Matt Westerlund. “It didn’t play to our strengths, and as it dried out it really allowed us to possess the ball more through the middle of the field, bypassing some of our midfield targets and playing our forwards in.”
Now Sandia Prep meets a team it beat 6-0 in September at home.
“They’re very physical and they’re very tough, and they’re a team that has a lot of pride,” he said. “When you have that many people — and I know it’s not that far away — but when you have that many people travel to a Saturday game, I know it’s something that’s going to be a very electric atmosphere.”
No. 2 SOCORRO 3, No. 3 ST. MICHAEL’S 1: The Warriors (193), who return eight veterans from that championship game appearance two seasons ago, wanted to get out to a quick start and got exactly that. As a matter of fact, they carried out coach Michael Olguin’s game plan perfectly.
“What we wanted to do was come out strong, come out swinging,” he said. “The whole game plan was we wanted to get one. And the best-case scenario was to get two goals, which we did. And once we got those two goals, we wanted to make sure they adjusted to our game and didn’t make any mistakes, because making mistakes against a good team like this can be devastating.”
Throw in a quick-strike offense and Socorro was good to go. Lola Apodaca delivered the first strike, lofting a precision, 25-yard shot that just cleared keeper Milena Keene’s leap in the 13th minute.
Four minutes later, Kaylene Baca finished from the inside, and the Horsemen (16-5-1) were forced to play catch-up.
In the 27th minute, it looked like St. Mike’s would have a chance to do just that when Farrah Baker followed a shot that Rachel Morgan blasted off Warriors goalkeeper Chailynn Amaro.
And the Lady Horsemen followed that with strong pressure that Socorro was able to withstand before Consuelo Apache finished off a pass from Elise Madril seven minutes before halftime.