The Roswell High School boys’ soccer team (10-1) rallied past the Centennial Hawks (6-3) in the second half Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the Cielo Grande Sports Complex, for a 3-1 victory.
Roswell forwards Axel Sanchez and Debrice Ashung continued their strong start to the season, combining for all three goals. Sanchez struck twice early in the second half, then Ashung added another goal less than 5 minutes later to put the Coyotes in control. The two forwards have proven to be unstoppable all season. Ashung leads all New Mexico scorers with 25 goals, while Sanchez is second with 19.
“Axel and Debrice have been special,” Roswell head coach Robert Madrid said. “They play really well off each other.”
But for much of Tuesday’s match, neither could break through. Both teams created scoring chances in the opening half, but neither could find the back of the net.
The deadlock carried into the second half until Sanchez broke through with 32:59 remaining. Working from the right side of the field, he powered a shot into the net to give Roswell a 1-0 lead.
Sanchez struck again with 4 minutes left, this time finding the net down the middle of the field at the 28:50 mark.
Ashung delivered the knockout blow with 23:56 remaining, scoring to make it 3-0 and sending the Cielo Grande Sports Complex into celebration.
Centennial refused to go quietly, however, avoiding the shutout with a goal with 3:41 remaining. Despite this, Roswell came out victorious and Madrid pointed to goalkeeper Christian Claudio for being a factor in the win.
“Christian kept us in the game,” Madrid said. “That’s all we ask of him, and when we need him, he comes in big for us.”
The victory gives Roswell its best start since the 2016 season.
Roswell returns to action at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, against the Mayfield Trojans (1-5-2) 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.
