The rain that never let up couldn’t put a damper on Albuquerque Sandia Prep avenging a previous setback to visiting St. Michael’s by turning in a convincing District 2-1A/3A 6-1 triumph Tuesday

By Arnie Leshin 

The raindrops kept falling, but it had no effect on Albuquerque’s Sandia Prep boy’s soccer team having revenge on its mind when St. Michael’s arrived at its pitch Tuesday afternoon.

Not even the continuing downpour that lasted from start to finish couldn’t keep the 18-time state champions from avenging the 2-0 loss at St. Michael’s on Oct. 4. It was only the second time in 20 years that the Sundevils had lost to the Horsemen.

It was also a time when Sandia Prep owned an unfamiliar 7-8 overall record.

But it hasn’t lost since and this 6-1 win probably dropped St. Michael’s to third place in District 2-1A/3A, when only last week it had to beat Albuquerque Bosque School to clinch first place or even finish in a tie with Sandia Prep and Robertson.

But the loss put Sandia Prep and Robertson back on top and the Sundevils (11-8, 7-2) need only to turn back winless Albuquerque Oak Grove Classical Academy, while the Cardinals (13-4, 7-2) will have to contend with fourth place Bosque.

As for the Horsemen, they are hoping for a top-five seed when the New Mexico Activities Association announces its 12-school pairings Sunday.

“We have a district that has balance,” said St. Michael’s head coach Mike fFeldewert after the rain had made a mess of the field and areas around it that included the team sidelines. “So I think our district stands a good chance of having a good tournament.”

His team is now 11-8 overall and 7-3 in district, but its regular season is over.

It was scoreless in the first half when the home side came up with back-to-back goals to bring a 2-0 halftime advantage. It became 3-0 in the early part of the wet second half, and while Sandia Prep added three finishing goals, the lone score for the visitors came from senior Justice Johnson on an assist from Esteban Rigales.

Not only did the Horsemen awaken the Sundevils with that setback, but it put Sandia Prep back in the hunt for another state championship. It has played in 22 state finals. St. Michael’s has never won a state boy’s title.

Senior Lucas Sandoval scored three times and added an assist, while Brian Altavas and Michael Martinez tallied a goal apiece.