Each Day this week we will discuss a new classification and the matchups being played in the first round.
Boys 6A
8. Cibola hosts 9. Eldorado
In the beginning of the season, Eldorado defeated Cibola by 1 goal. However, the Cougars had more shots on goal, with 7, while the Eagles only had 1. When it comes to mutual opponents, Cibola defeated the La Cueva Bears, while Eldorado lost to them three times. Cibola defeated Albuquerque high, while Eldorado lost. Senior Tanner Hendrix leads the Eagles with 6 goals and 7 assists, while Gavin Sleeter has recorded 4 goals and 5 assists. Joshua Garcia has 7 goals and 7 assists for the Cougars and Isahia Juarez has 6 Goals and 4 assists. Cougar goalkeeper Enrico Sanchez only has 11 goals against him on his record and has 39 saves. This will be a very physical, emotional match, that can go either way.
5. Las Cruces hosts 12. Gadsden
District Foes, the Las Cruces Bulldawgs and the Gadsden Panthers will battle it out for the third time this evening. The Bulldawgs came up on top both times with a score of 2-1. Junior Luis Rivas has been leading the Panthers with 16 goals. Junior Sergio Olvera has assisted a goal 12 times so far this season, including once against Las Cruces. Senior Kiki Najera put himself on the radar early on in his career and he still continues to dominate. He has 20 goals and 7 assists, with 2 goals scored on the Panthers. Fellow senior Alexis Ruiz is the next highest scorer for the Bulldawgs with 7 goals and 10 assists. Junior Izak Cortez has 13 big assists, including once against Gadsden. The Bulldawgs look to have this game in the bag.
6. Sandia hosts 11. Clovis
232 miles is what separates the Sandia Matadors and the Clovis Wildcats. These two teams have yet to meet and only have seen 3 of the same opponents. Both hold a loss to Cibola, a win to Highland and Clovis beat Sandia Prep, while Sandia tied the Sundevils. Freshman Elias Ortega has started his high school career in Clovis off right. He’s recorded 15 goals and 7 assists, while the next highest scorer on the Wildcats has 6. Marco Fernandez leads the Matadors in scoring with 7 goals and 4 assists. The Matadors appear to have the upper hand on this matchup.
7. Cleveland hosts 10. Hobbs
The Hobbs Eagles will travel the most out of any team in the first round of the state tournament, as they treck 339 miles to Rio Rancho to take on the Cleveland Storm. The pair have not seen each other this year and both hold wins over Centennial and Onate. Cleveland is coming off 3 ties against 3 big teams, while the Eagles are on a 5 game winning streak, and have won 7 of their last 8. Senior D’Andre Finney has 16 goals on the season for the Eagles. Junior James Ulrich has knocked in 7 for the Storm with 6 assists. Senior Kyle Case adds 4 goals and 7 assists. The Storm have a tough visitor on their hand, as Hobbs isn’t afraid to fight.
Boys 6A
8. Cibola hosts 9. Eldorado
In the beginning of the season, Eldorado defeated Cibola by 1 goal. However, the Cougars had more shots on goal, with 7, while the Eagles only had 1. When it comes to mutual opponents, Cibola defeated the La Cueva Bears, while Eldorado lost to them three times. Cibola defeated Albuquerque high, while Eldorado lost. Senior Tanner Hendrix leads the Eagles with 6 goals and 7 assists, while Gavin Sleeter has recorded 4 goals and 5 assists. Joshua Garcia has 7 goals and 7 assists for the Cougars and Isahia Juarez has 6 Goals and 4 assists. Cougar goalkeeper Enrico Sanchez only has 11 goals against him on his record and has 39 saves. This will be a very physical, emotional match, that can go either way.
5. Las Cruces hosts 12. Gadsden
District Foes, the Las Cruces Bulldawgs and the Gadsden Panthers will battle it out for the third time this evening. The Bulldawgs came up on top both times with a score of 2-1. Junior Luis Rivas has been leading the Panthers with 16 goals. Junior Sergio Olvera has assisted a goal 12 times so far this season, including once against Las Cruces. Senior Kiki Najera put himself on the radar early on in his career and he still continues to dominate. He has 20 goals and 7 assists, with 2 goals scored on the Panthers. Fellow senior Alexis Ruiz is the next highest scorer for the Bulldawgs with 7 goals and 10 assists. Junior Izak Cortez has 13 big assists, including once against Gadsden. The Bulldawgs look to have this game in the bag.
6. Sandia hosts 11. Clovis
232 miles is what separates the Sandia Matadors and the Clovis Wildcats. These two teams have yet to meet and only have seen 3 of the same opponents. Both hold a loss to Cibola, a win to Highland and Clovis beat Sandia Prep, while Sandia tied the Sundevils. Freshman Elias Ortega has started his high school career in Clovis off right. He’s recorded 15 goals and 7 assists, while the next highest scorer on the Wildcats has 6. Marco Fernandez leads the Matadors in scoring with 7 goals and 4 assists. The Matadors appear to have the upper hand on this matchup.
7. Cleveland hosts 10. Hobbs
The Hobbs Eagles will travel the most out of any team in the first round of the state tournament, as they treck 339 miles to Rio Rancho to take on the Cleveland Storm. The pair have not seen each other this year and both hold wins over Centennial and Onate. Cleveland is coming off 3 ties against 3 big teams, while the Eagles are on a 5 game winning streak, and have won 7 of their last 8. Senior D’Andre Finney has 16 goals on the season for the Eagles. Junior James Ulrich has knocked in 7 for the Storm with 6 assists. Senior Kyle Case adds 4 goals and 7 assists. The Storm have a tough visitor on their hand, as Hobbs isn’t afraid to fight.
