The Roswell girls’ soccer team (8-5-1) dropped its final non-district game, falling 1-0, to the Artesia Bulldogs (10-3-1) Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Cielo Grande Sports Complex.
Artesia defender Marlyn Corza scored the game’s lone goal on a penalty kick 18 minutes into the first half.
Roswell head coach Urbano Sosa said both teams were getting physical when the penalty call was made and the kick could have gone to either team.
“That was a close call because players from both teams were grabbing each other,” Sosa said.
Roswell’s top two scorers this season, forward Emily Macias and midfielder Jacqueline Nevarez, had chances to score before and after the penalty kick in the first half but couldn’t capitalize.
The Coyotes had even more opportunities to score after halftime, spending much of the second half on Artesia’s side of the field.
Midfielders Aliyah Morales, Tatum Sosa and Kyilegh Najar all came close early in the half, creating opportunities near the Bulldogs’ goal but failing to beat Artesia goalkeeper Leila Irvin.
Irvin repeatedly came up with saves to preserve Artesia’s one-goal advantage and helped the Bulldogs escape with the shutout.
Despite the loss, Sosa said he was pleased with his team’s effort and singled out Najar for her performance.
“I was disappointed with the loss, but I wasn’t upset about the effort,” Sosa said. “I also thought Najar played a pretty good game.”
Roswell opens District 4-5A play against the Clovis Wildcats (8-4) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, on the road.
Marshall Mecham can be reached at (915) 232-1793 or on X @mecham_marshall. Mecham serves with the New Mexico Local News Fellowship, which places emerging journalists in newsrooms across the state. Learn more at www.newmexicolocalnewsfellowships.org.
