Desert Academy’s coed soccer team winds up the season against visiting Rehoboth

Santa Fe Prep boys bow to Robertson Wednesday to set up a possible district tiebreaker Saturday. Monte del Sol boys win 4-1 at Pojoaque Valley

By ARNIE LESHIN, Santa Fe Today

“Whatever” or it could be “or” for the Desert Academy soccer program.

Head coach Rob Lochner winds up his 13th season in Friday afternoon’s match at Alto Park Field against the visitors from Rehoboth.

Until this season, the school was able to field both a boys and girls team, but it became a one-team coed group when neither had enough players this time. And that’s the way the campaign will conclude.

“We’re hoping to put together both teams next season,” Lochner said, “but it we can’t, we will probably have to go coed again. We’ve got a bunch of eighth-graders, and that’s boys and girls. The girls would rather have their own team, but they would also like to play, so we will see.”

Lochner has played a large part in the Wildcats’ athletic program, having also coached the swimming team for three years and having his daughter, Hannah, as the best on the team. She is now a graduate of New York University and continuing her schooling in Portland, Ore.

“It’s not a question of the boys and girls getting along, because they do,” he said, “but when it comes to teams the boys would rather be with the boys and the girls with the girls because that’s the way it always was.”

On the pitch Tuesday, Santa Fe Prep’s boys, the defending state 1A/4A champions thought they had another district championship wrapped up after nipping rival St. Michael’s, 1-0, Monday at Christian Brothers Athletic Complex, but two matches in two days might have been a bit much.

And so West Las Vegas Robertson became the spoiler by blanking the Griffins, 4-0, Tuesday at Sun Mountain Field and forcing a possible tiebreaker when the teams meet again Friday at the Cardinals’ field.

Roberson must first get past the Horsemen at home Thursday. The Cards are 12-6 overall and 9-0-1 in district. The Prep fell to 11-3-2 overall and 9-1 in district.

The Griffins are closing out the season with 14 matches in a 35-day stretch. Head coach Hersch Wilson said his team is exhausted, and in came Robertson to take advantage.

The Cardinals broke a scoreless tie in the first half by scoring all four goals in a 25-minute stretch, with two apiece from T.J. Trujillo and Musah Doumbia.

“All the credit to them,” said long-time coach Wilson.

In Pojoaque Valley, Monte del Sol came away with a 4-1 win as freshman Moises Cerda scored twice and increased his team-leading total to 20. Senior Ullises Gutierrez also put in a pair of goals as the Dragons improved to 8-11 overall and 4-7 in 2-1A/4A.

“Overall, we’re still working on our passing,” said first-year head coach Fritz Rothdachs. “There is still room for improvement.”

Monte del Sol is at Questa Thursday.