2022 NMAA Soccer Championships Quarterfinals News and Scores

Article and Photos by Jonathan Noah Padilla

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Girls 5A #4 Volcano Vista vs #5 Cibola Final score Hawks 2 Cougars 3

Volcano Vista hosted Cibola for a girls 5A quarterfinal match. This game was highly competitive for the duration of the match. Cougar senior captain, #13 F Brooke Volza, had Cibola’s two goals in regulation time. Volcano Vista junior captain, #10 Aleah Lucero, had a goal in the second half to even the game at one a piece. Brooke’s second goal, on a PK, came in the second half to give Cibola the lead 2-1. 8th grader, #4 Kasey Sandoval, knotted the game at 2 on a beauty of a shot from outside the box. Kasey is easily one of the best players in the state and she showed why, stepping up huge when Volcano Vista needed a goal late. Regulation time was not enough to determine a winner in this match as the game headed to overtime. Cibola junior midfielder, #3 Mireya Torres, scored the game winning golden goal to send the Cougars to the semifinals. They will face another district rival, the #1 seed Cleveland Storm on Wed 11/2 at 3pm at Cleveland High School. This will be a game to watch.

Boys 5A #1 Volcano Vista vs 8 Organ Mountain Final score Hawks 3 Knights 1

1 seed Volcano Vista hosted Organ Mountain for a 5A quarterfinal match up. Organ Mountain started the scoring off early in the first half. Volcano Vista senior, #22 Bryan Rivas, answered back shortly afterwards to tie the game at 1-1. The Hawks controlled the game for the rest of the way. Sophomore, #16 Tsuzumi Oshima, put away two more goals for Volcano, making the final score 3-1, Hawks. Volcano Vista moves on to host district rival, Cleveland High School, in the State semifinals on Wed 11/2 at 3pm.

Girls 4A #3 St. Pius X vs #6 Aztec Final score Sartans 3 Tigers 0

For the second straight year, St. Pius X hosted the Tigers of Aztec High in the State playoffs. Aztec played well but St. Pius controlled much of the game as they have done to many teams this year. The Sartans had three different players score goals in this match. Sophomore, #3 Audrey Mileshosky, and senior, #43 Natasha Montoya, both had a goal and an assist. Senior, #15 Marisol Valdez, had the third goal. Senior, #00 Gianna Maldonado, and sophomore, #17 Kiley Patalan, had a combined shutout for St. Pius. The Sartans advance to face the 2 seeded Chargers of Academy on Wed 11/2 at 3:30pm.

Boys 5A #3 La Cueva vs #6 Santa Fe Final score Bears 1 Demons 2

The Bears of La Cueva High School hosted the Demons of Santa Fe for a state quarterfinal match on Sat 10/29. The defending state champions, Santa Fe, embodied the saying of bend but don’t break as La Cueva really controlled the ball and was on the attack for most of the match. However, the Demons capitalized on their opportunities when they came along. Santa Fe sophomore midefielder, #10 Pablo Canivell, scored the first goal of the match in the first half. La Cueva on the other hand had a crucial missed penalty kick in the first half. The Bears got the equalizer in the second half when the Starr brothers connected for a goal on a corner kick to tie the game. #19 Winston Starr had the assist and #2 Malcolm Starr had the goal. The rest of the match went scoreless sending the match into overtime. Santa Fe only needed 13 extra minutes to finish the game off. Canivell put a free kick into the back of the net to send Santa Fe to the semifinals where they will travel to face 2 seed Centennial on Wed 11/2 at 5:30pm.

Quarterfinal Scores Boys

Quarterfinal Scores Girls

Bandit 2022 NMAA Soccer Champion picks:

5A Boys – Volcano Vista | 5A Girls – Eldorado | 4A Boys – Lovington | 4A Girls – Hope Christian | A-3A Boys – Sandia Prep | A-3A Girls – Sandia Prep