The No. 11-seeded Roswell girls soccer team saw its Class 5A state tournament run end Thursday night, falling 2-0 on the road to No. 6 Rio Rancho in the first round.
Despite the loss, the Coyotes finished the season with a 12-6-3 record and captured the District 4-5A title with a 4-0-2 mark. Roswell also recorded 11 shutout victories.
Head coach Urbano Sosa said reaching the postseason was the team’s objective, making the district championship an added award.
“I was really happy we reached our goal of making the playoffs,” Sosa said. “Winning district just puts a cherry on top of it.”
Roswell’s season also featured its share of adversity. After opening with a 4-1-1 record, the Coyotes endured a three-game losing streak, getting shut out in each contest. They then responded by winning four consecutive games, all by shutout.
Following a 1-0 loss to Artesia on Sept. 22 at Cielo Grande Sports Complex, Roswell did not suffer another defeat until Thursday’s postseason matchup against Rio Rancho.
“They played their hearts out all year and were a good group to coach,” Sosa said.
The Coyotes scored 53 goals this season, led by three juniors who helped power the offense. Forward Emily Macias paced the team with 12 goals, while midfielders Jacqueline Nevarez and Julissa Baca contributed nine apiece.
Roswell also benefited from the leadership of five seniors: Goalkeeper Elana Macias, defender Xanali Madrid and midfielders Ayanna Patel, Aliyah Morales and Esmeralda Alvarado.
Macias anchored the defense in goal, recording 76 saves. Madrid also played an important role along the back line, earning praise from Sosa for her defensive contributions. On the offensive end, Morales added five goals, Patel scored twice and Alvarado chipped in one.
While the individual numbers highlighted several key contributions, Sosa said the entire roster played a part in the Coyotes’ season. He also recognized the commitment of the seniors, many of whom spent all four years in the program.
“I appreciate everything the seniors have done,” Sosa said. “They stuck with me and stuck with this program all four years. They’re going to be hard to replace but we have eight returning starters, which will be huge.”
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.
