Despite finishing with just an 8-11-2 record during the 2025 campaign, the Goddard High School girls’ soccer team still made the district championship game against Artesia but fell in a sudden-death penalty shootout.
After being tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, the Bulldogs won the penalty kicks 3-2, thanks to a goal from senior keeper Aubrie Edwards.
Rockets head coach Fernando Sosa said the goal for this year’s team is to get over the hump and make the state tournament.
“We want to win the district and make the state playoffs,” Sosa said. “We’re looking forward to the competition.”
Schedule outlook
Goddard will open its season against Roswell at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the Cielo Grande Sports Complex.
Sosa’s nephew Urbano Sosa is the Roswell girls’ soccer head coach. Sosa said the rivalry is both competitive and friendly.
“It’s a great competition,” Sosa said. “We always talk about what we could’ve done differently against each other in previous rivalry games. We also try to help each other out with coaching schemes during district play since we’re in different classes. They’re a 5A school and we’re 4A.”
The season opener will be followed by the Alien City Invitational at the Sports Complex from Aug. 21-22. Goddard faces Silver City in the first game of the tournament at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21. The Rockets also compete in the Las Cruces Invitational at Las Cruces High School from Aug. 28-29.
Goddard’s first home game is against Santa Teresa at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at home. The Rockets first district matchup will also be at home against Lovington at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Goddard will play six district games, three at home and three away. The Rockets face each team twice, which includes Lovington, Artesia, and Portales.
The Rockets play 20 games, including six at home, eight on the road, and six tournament matchups.
Sosa said his team is playing a tough schedule, but that it will benefit them in the long run.
“We play a lot of 5A schools, so that’ll help us out for the district tournament,” Sosa said.
Key players
Sosa said junior midfielder Rosalinda Banda, junior forward Brianna Rivera, sophomore midfielder Chealsey Salas, sophomore midfielder Piper Roehlk and sophomore forward Angela Galassini will be key returners on offense this season.
On defense, senior Isabel Roehlk and sophomore Juliana Perez will be top contributors, according to Sosa.
Sosa said he is excited for the upcoming season.
“I’m looking forward to coaching these awesome girls this year,” Sosa said. “I can’t wait to get started.”
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.
