Pojoaque was as hot a team as any to start the year.
But then, overconfidence, combined with injuries, hurt their performance as they lost three straight. Now, they have bounced back for another strong stretch, and are back with more wins than losses.
“The last, like two weeks, we’ve been playing really hard, and working as a team,” said Pojoaque coach Juan Ortiz. “The passing, the communication, and our defense has come along.”
Pojoaque Valley boys soccer (6-5-1) defeated East Mountain (5-8) on Tuesday 2-1. The Elks have now won three of their last matches, and are having a strong season a year after finishing 3-12-3. As they head into district play, they should be strong competition.
“We actually play as a team this year,” said junior Luis Hernandez. “Last year, we were a little bit more selfish with each other. We wouldn’t have that communication in between each other. This year, we’ve learned how to play as a team.”
An early free kick from Pojoaque was saved. A couple minutes later, East Mountain had a breakaway, and scored, to go up 1-0.
Just two minutes later, though, Pojoaque found a good opportunity, and Hernandez hit a screamer from distance into the net as the equalizer.
Later in the first half, Omar Hernandez had an impressive double save to keep the match tied. And with the ball back in possession, just two minutes later, a beautiful cross pass from Luis Hernandez found Elijah Hall, who poked it into the net, and Pojoaque led 2-1 at halftime.
Omar Hernandez had a few strong saves early in the second half. Pojoaque had a chance penalty kick off a handball with four minutes left in the match, but East Mountain saved the shot. The Timberwolves’ best second-half opportunity came on the ensuing possession, but they missed a good shot just wide of the net.
Pojoaque started the season at 3-0-1, including a first-place finish at the Oak Grove Tournament. But they lost three straight matches after that as they battled injuries. Now, while still missing some pieces, they seem to be back on track.
“I think some of our starters got a little in over their heads,” Hall said. “We’re coming back from getting cocky, so I think that will be good for us.”
Ortiz said that leadership from the strong senior class, with six members, has been a difference for the team this year.
“We’re expecting to be one of the top teams in the district this year,” Ortiz said. “We have the talent, we just have to step it up. We’ve got good leadership, we’ve got good athletes. We’ve just got to bring it together against those good teams.”
Pojoaque faces Robertson (7-3-1) on Thursday, then on Oct. 10 start district play with a match at Taos. The Elks have a goal of finishing at least second in their district (while Los Alamos remains a strong favorite). And from there, they hope to make it to the state tournament. A strong finish in district could get them into the 12-team field.
“We all have that chemistry between ourselves,” Hall said. “That helps connecting passes and getting goals.”
Pojoaque Valley Girls
The girls soccer match, later in the afternoon, saw the Timberwolves (5-5-3) defeat the Elkettes (2-7-2) 3-1.
“They did incredibly well,” said Pojoaque Coach Clarence Herrera. “We lost, but they’ve improved drastically. I’m really impressed with how well they played.”
Herrera cited passing, defense, and midfield as strengths for the Elkettes on Tuesday.
In the 35th minute of the first half, East Mountain scored from the run of play on a good shot past the goalie. But Pojoaque responded just before halftime, when freshman Monique Arrieta broke away from the defense and scored into the net to enter the half tied at 1.
But halfway through the second half, an East Mountain corner kick was deflected by their striker for a go-ahead goal. And they scored once more in the final minutes of the match for a 3-1 final.
Herrera said the Elkettes have been working on playing more structured, and in system. That has led to improvements over the course of the year.
“Quite honestly, we’re just trying to get them to have some fun, not take it too seriously,” Herrera said. “It’s manifesting in a much better style of play. Just letting it happen naturally.”