BOY’S SOCCER DISTRICT PREVIEW
Once again, the New Mexico Activities Association has tossed everyone’s name into a mixing bowl and baked up a new classification and district alignment for everyone in the state. That’s especially true for a number of area teams that find themselves in new surroundings this fall. It will take some getting used to but, as always, it’s safe to assume the usual cast of characters will again make a playoff push in whatever environment the NMAA has cooked up for them.
Santa Fe High and Capital are district rivals once again as both were shuttled into this mishmash alignment of former 6A clubs. Among them is defending big-school champion Albuquerque High, a 19-win team from a year ago that shows no signs of slowing down. Sandia is also part of this group, as is Manzano and Rio Grande.
On paper it seems as though the Demons and Jaguars have a legitimate shot at making some noise in this race despite the fact that Capital’s most successful coach ever, Eugene Doyle, has hung it up. The Jags stumbled to the finish last year, dropping five of their final six with a senior-laden roster and will have a challenge holding onto the mystique that made them one of the most respected teams in what is now the old 5A.
Santa Fe High made significant strides in a number of close matches late last season and returns what may be the most talented group the program has seen in years. The defense remains strong, but expect big things from offensive playmaker Matt Hunter and a supporting cast that promises to keep things interesting from start to finish.
A four-team district, it’s clearly all laid out for Los Alamos. A perennial power in years past in old 5A, the Hilltoppers have a balanced roster led by tri-captains Arthur Steinkamp at forward, Jared Carnes in the midfield and Jesse Prime on defense and the midfield. Steinkamp is one of the most dynamic scorers in the state, helping to make Los Alamos a legitimate threat.
Taos, Pojoaque Valley and Moriarty round out the district; Moriarty the only returning playoff team among them. Taos has beefed up its nondistrict schedule with matches against Santa Fe High, Capital, Robertson and St. Michael’s, but the entire season comes down to sweeping an undermanned Pojoaque squad and scoring an upset (or two) against the other two come district time.
Technically, this is a six-team district. We’ll see about that. Moreno Valley and Questa could be no-shows if numbers don’t improve. It leaves Santa Fe clubs Tierra Encantada, Desert Academy and Monte del Sol alongside Rehoboth for what should be a wide open race.
Rehoboth won 13 games a year ago, but Tierra Encantada got the playoff nod with a ridiculously young roster that had just two seniors. If the Alarcranes can capture lightning in a bottle once again, another playoff run could be in store for head coach Kurtis Montoya’s rising program.
Desert Academy will again go with a mix of boys and girls as senior Anneliese Rios will start in the midfield alongside captains Sebastian Pearson-Kramer, Cole Sullivan and Ryan Harvey. Monte del Sol is coming off a nine-win campaign and will field a team with just one senior (midfielder Rury Lopez).
Privates-plus-one. That’s the best way to describe this six-team district that houses five private school and the lone public place, Las Vegas Robertson. The Cardinals are coming off their most successful season in a decade but will have their work cut out for them in a slate that includes Santa Fe Prep, St. Michael’s and Albuquerque clubs Sandia Prep, Bosque and Oak Grove Classical.
Robertson won its district and entered the playoffs as a 3-seed in 4A, but things ended messily with an upset loss at home in the quarterfinals. To make another run, Sandia Prep and Santa Fe Prep will be major challenges. The Blue Griffins had a somewhat disappointing run in an injury plagued 2017 and must deal with a young roster of players being thrust into key roles.
St. Michael’s has increased its win total three straight years under Mike Felderwert but must do a better job at finding the back of the net. The club averaged fewer than three goals a game last year but back in the mix are juniors Esteban Rigales (striker) and Wesley Graham (midfield). The pair combined for nearly half the team’s goals a year ago.