Published 10/23/08
There are no teammates cheering from the bench, nor is there rest for the weary.
With just 11 members on the Española Valley High School girls soccer team, they’re all on the field. They have to play every minute of the 80-minute games with only one break, at halftime.
There are few moments to celebrate, although there are a lot more than last year. In 2007, the Sundevils scored just one goal the entire season. Now Española has victories over the junior varsity teams of St. Michaels, Bloomfield and Robertson, as well as a win over Santa Fe Indian School, a first-year program.
But even against dominant teams, the Sundevils battle. They have only succumbed to the 10-goal mercy rule once during the season, and that was to perennial powerhouse Los Alamos.
“They never cease to amaze me,” Española coach Andrew Manges said, watching his team play the Pojoaque Elkettes Oct. 16. “There’s a lot of guts being shown out there.”
Española surrendered two quick goals early in the game against Pojoaque. Both goals were scored by Cristina Carbajal, the Elkettes’ leading scorer. But the Sundevils hung in there and caught a break. A loose ball was banged into the net by Mariela Anchon, cutting the Pojoaque lead to 2-1 just before halftime.
Anchon, a three-year veteran of the soccer program, may not have scored that goal if not for the urging of Manges.
“She told me she didn’t want to play offense any more,” Manges said. “I told her to hang in there and good things may happen.”
At halftime, the Sundevils wore smiles. Manges reminded them that they were outmanned.
“You have to stay focused and hustle more than you’ve hustled before,” he said. “Remember, you’re 11 taking on 17.”
Manges had special praise for goalie Evelyn Caballero, midfielder Janelle Martinez and leading scorer Nisa Duran, but he couldn’t tell the SUN how many goals Duran has scored. Nor did he know the final scores of Española’s winning games.
“I don’t have a scorekeeper, a manager or an assistant,” he said. “I’m it.”
In the second half, the Sundevils came out hard. Caballero made several diving saves and at one point, Duran dribbled the ball past several Pojoaque defenders.
“How was she able to dribble right through you?” Pojoaque coach Angelo Montoya shouted from the sidelines.
But Duran’s shot on the goal went right to the perfectly-positioned Elkette goalie, Bianca Saunders.
Before long, fatigue began to show on the faces of Española’s players. Carbajal was able to get free and put the ball past Caballero for her second hat trick of the season. Española fell to 4-12 on the season with the 3-1 loss.
Although words of encouragement were answered by weak smiles or tired looks, Manges wouldn’t let his players get down on themselves.
“You played another 80 minutes of soccer and that’s tough,” he said. “Don’t go home thinking anything other than the best of yourselves.”
Pojoaque, who had suffered a tough loss to District 1A-AAA rival Robertson the previous night, improved to 7-8 on the season. The Elkettes hosted Robertson Tuesday in their final regular season game.
For the Sundevils, a chance for a rare victory had slipped away. Manges has been with Española for three years, the last two as head coach. He said he knows the realities the team faces, and is proud of their effort.
“It’s tough playing on a small team,” Manges said. “I’ll never forget this team.”