Class 1A/3A girls: S.F. Prep runs out of steam vs. Sandia.
SANTA ANA PUEBLO — After dropping a pair of lessthan-competitive games to Albuquerque Sandia Prep in the regular season, Santa Fe Prep entered the Class 1A/3A girls semifinals with renewed resolve and a sound game plan.
For a half, that was enough make the Sundevils uncomfortable.
The Blue Griffins (12-6-1) played Sandia Prep to a scoreless tie for 40 minutes but ultimately ran out of gas down the stretch in a 2-0 loss Thursday morning at the New Mexico Soccer Tournament Complex. Santa Fe Prep coach Steph Coppola focused on solidifying her team’s midfield, and that was integral in neutralizing Sandia Prep’s scoring opportunities in an evenly played first half.
“That definitely helped. Then we kind of tried to overload one side and play off that side as much as we could,” Coppola said. “They obviously recognized that and adjusted. And then we had to adjust again. It’s always gonna be a chess match in these types of games.”
Sandia Prep’s biggest adjustment was adding an extra midfielder to its lineup. Sundevils coach Matt Westerlund credits that move for turning the tide
in the second half and opening things up for the defending small-school champion. Maria Merritt got Sandia Prep (15-4-2) on the board in the 49th minute, and eighth grader Kiran Hill added an insurance goal in the 73rd to clinch the victory.
“They were definitely a very physical team,” Westerlund said of the Blue Griffins. “They were able to have the presence to have an extra midfielder that they had to go at us. I really compliment them. I think that Stephanie has a fantastic team. I think she came
out here and gave us probably the toughest game we played all year.”
It was a far cry from the previous two meetings, which Sandia Prep won 3-0 on Sept. 28 and 7-3 on Oct. 16. Coppola said the Blue Griffins were short-handed in the first match and plagued by inclement weather and defensive breakdowns in the second matchup.
“I think everyone today came out just wanting to compete,” said Abby Stranahan, one of five seniors on the team. “We took some pretty brutal losses to them in season. I think we really wanted to show them that we weren’t the scores of the last couple games. I’m really proud of the work everyone put in. Those two goals they got were good goals, and I just think it is what it is.”
Whether fully healthy or otherwise, Santa Fe Prep is almost always shorthanded against a team like Sandia Prep. As the game progressed, the Blue Griffins simply couldn’t match the superior depth of their opponent, and the Lady Sundevils spent more and more time on Santa Fe Prep’s end of the field.
“Of course [fatigue was a factor] — that one mistake you make that they can capitalize on,” Coppola said. “I thought we played an excellent game. We had a great game plan going in and the girls executed it. We obviously had our opportunities. Didn’t give up many, but at the end of the day, the tired legs probably just were the difference.”
Stranahan will look back on fondly on her time with the Blue Griffins. The team had its share of success on the field, but it was also about the bond off of it.
“I’ve been playing with a lot of the same girls. It’s a really big community; we’re all like a big family,” she said. “One of the things I’ll remember forever is how much we all love each other and how much we cared for each other.”