The Pojoaque Valley High School girls soccer team had quite the difficult schedule to start the year.
In their second game of the season, they faced the defending 5A state champions in Carlsbad. Three days later, and in their fourth game in four days, they faced Santa Fe High School as another potential title contender.
“They’re in a different league,” coach Allison Garcia-Dowdy told the team after the Monday game. “Literally.”
So, the Elkettes had their fair share of 10-0 losses in a 1-4 start to the year, including against Santa Fe on Monday. But they know where they stand, and managed a win against Navajo Prep Aug. 21.
“It’s a really tedious schedule,” Garcia-Dowdy said. “But now we’re going into a break. So, hopefully that gave us a window into what we can work on.”
Pojoaque is back on the pitch after a year away, with the 2020-21 season never taking off. Garcia-Dowdy said the team did “Zoom practices” to stay in shape physically, but lost a lot of the mental edge.
Against Santa Fe, the Demons scored early and often in a dominant victory, but the Elkettes had plenty to take away as positives.
Santa Fe scored their first three goals in quick succession, and were up 4-0 after roughly 10 minutes. But the defense came a bit stronger after that, extending the margins between goals against a team significantly taller and more athletic.
But the goals kept coming, and a few minutes before halftime, Santa Fe took a 10-0 lead – though Pojoaque prevented the lead from growing any more, it was enough to end the game at the half.
“I think the girls have done a really good job about taking it constructively,” Garcia-Dowdy said. “They recognize that they’re playing some teams that are really well-built.”
Garcia-Dowdy said that Pojoaque has an extra challenge through not having any junior varsity or middle-school teams, so players make a leap into playing varsity.
Despite a busy day in the net, junior Kaylee Duran had bright moments as goalkeeper.
Pojoaque had few moments in the attacking half and in maintaining possession, but they also limited the number of shots allowed.
The Elkettes indeed get a break before their next game – more than two weeks, before they next take on Santa Fe Indian School on Sept. 9.
Garcia-Dowdy said she often receives compliments on the team’s sportsmanship, and she values those qualities.
“We have a really great team,” she said.