ST. MICHAEL’S GIRLS SOCCER

It was a second-straight successful girls soccer match for St. Michael’s, following an opening 2-1 non-district win over visiting Albuquerque Sandia Prep with yesterday afternoon’s 9-0 sweep over Gallup Rehoboth Christian School played at Sandia Prep.

Although the Lady Horsemen of first-year head coach Alfonso Camarena had an easy time shutting down the Lynx, they also got a shorter trip when Rehoboth requested the match be relocated because it’s school had temporarily closed down due to the coronavirus pandemic, which for the Lynx made for the ride from Gallup to Albuquerque to remain the host.

St. Michael’s scored four times in the first half and five times after the intermission. Four of the goals came from senior Rachel Morgan, three from freshman Elsa Ranney Smith, and one each from sophomores Farrah Baker and Jacqueline Gorman. Sophomore Milena Keene was again minding the goal for the Lady Horsemen and Camarena said she made but one save and his defense was outstanding.

Senior Francis Schneider began the scoring parade 10 minutes into the match by booting the ball to Baker for the assist. Next came Smith cutting off a clearing of the ball attempt by the Rehoboth goalie, and took it straight to the goal area and deposited it from the side box. Morgan then worked a pass-to-pass kick with Smith, and cut in front of the goal to tally again.

Now it was 9:32 late in the half when senior Olivia Farrah assisted on a kick to Gorman, who fired it past the keeper’s grasp.

In the second half, it was only the opening minute when Smith cut in from of the Rehoboth keeper’s attempt to clear the ball past midfield by rebounding it and sending it back to Morgan, who scored again by sending it into the left corner. Then it was Morgan scoring back-to-back unassisted goals. First, she pressed the Lynx defense to swipe the ball, and followed by hanging in a goal before the goalkeeper could react. Second, she lined up for a free kick and sent a strike 25 yards and into the goal.

Smith finished the scoring spree with her own unassisted goal with 10 minutes remaining, this one when she got in between a defender and the goalie to cap the day off.

The next stop for St. Michael’s is Tuesday afternoon, with the scheduled start 4 o’clock, at non-district opponent Los Alamos. The Hilltoppers lost their opener, 5-4 in overtime Wednesday, at Socorro.