AA 2     Rio Grande  1

This past week, the varsity boys soccer team kicked off the season at the annual APS Metro Tournament. The first week is a round robin amongst a pool of four teams. The second week is a playoff depending on the pool results.

With 8 returning starters and many players committing to the grueling offseason workouts, hopes are high for another strong season. This year, Bryan Jaramillo ’14 is serving as a varsity assistant after leading the JV program last year.

On Tuesday evening, the Academy team got off to an auspicious start against an athletic Cleveland side. Last year, Cleveland was one of the better teams in the state, winning the Albuquerque Academy Invitational Tournament. In the first half, play was up and down as the Academy struggled to get accustomed to the small fields and turf playing surface, but prospects brightened when Captain Hardy Stone ’18 marauded down the left wing and cut towards goal. His cross was deflected into the air, but Mateo Centenera ’20 headed it home. Later in the same half, the Academy earned a corner kick. The initial service was cleared, but Mateo headed it back into the box and Captain Nick Williams ’18 calmly slotted the ball home. In the second half, the play was again uneven, with Cleveland earning a number of chances, but the Academy struck again when center defender Aaron Hill ’19 sent an incisive ball up the right wing where Kenny Levandoski ’19 ran on to it and sent a pass across the face of the goal for Mateo to finish. Cleveland had the chance to pull one back with a penalty shot, but Lucas Schlenzig ’18 smothered the attempt. Final score 3-0.

Although the play was sloppy with lots of missed connections and lacking the possession that the Academy prides itself on playing, it was an excellent start.

On Thursday, playing a late game with the setting sun and the field lights coming on, the Academy faced traditional powerhouse Eldorado who had won 6-0 on Tuesday. Right from the start, it was clear that this would be a battle. Eldorado has skillful attackers and are very fit. They sent many players forward searching for a goal, but the Academy changed formations to a more defensive set and sent the ball back time and time again. On the attack, the Academy found some dangerous opportunities, especially in the last ten minutes of the first half when they finally figured out how to possess through the midfield utilizing new holding center, Joaquin Garcia ’18.

In the second half, it was more of the same, with spirited and athletic soccer played with just a smidge of early season lack of cohesion. First Eldorado would attack and then the Academy. As the lights glittered, it looked as though the game might go into overtime, but two Eldorado forwards played a crafty combination on the wing and found a central player who drilled a shot into the lower corner. With just four minutes remaining, the Academy threw everyone forward and had a chance or two but could not score. Final score, Eldorado wins 1-0.

Saturday afternoon, the Academy trudged with weary legs and several players missing for SAT or recruiting visits into the final match of the round robin. Although Rio Grande was winless, they had thrown a scare into Cleveland the game before and had earned a reputation as a team playing technical soccer with a sense of flair. The Academy started fast and had a number of dangerous shots, including a Hardy Stone ’18 shot that clanged off the post. Although back on their heels, Rio Grande regathered their wits and started to dominate the midfield and combine to get into the attack. Twenty minutes in, there was a foul. Nick Williams ’18 sent the free kick on a rope in front of the goal and Mateo Centenera ’20 headed it home. The joy was short lived as just a minute later, Rio Grande capitalized on a defensive miscue and their speedy forward slotted the loose ball home. The half ended 1-1.

While it is not possible to replace the production and talent of the graduated Touche twins, this is perhaps the deepest team in terms of talent in this author’s time around the team. Much of that talent was tapped as players shuttled on to the oven-like field and as Coach Kolek tried to find the magical combination. With Rio Grande seemingly content to play for a tie and displaying some excellent passing and strong ideas, a group that included four substitutes combined for the best buildup of the young season. A deep ball was played ahead to Hardy who held it up under strong pressure. He passed back to Kenny Levandoski ’19 who played a dangerous one-touch pass through the defense to the high forward, Tai Durell ’19. Tai touched the ball past the last defender to a wide open Lucas Jepsen ’19 who calmly beat the keeper one-on-one. Minutes later the whistle blew with Academy winning 2-1.

With Eldorado, Cleveland, and the Academy all tied with records of 2-1, the byzantine rules of the tournament kicked into effect. Due to a better ratio of goals scored vs. allowed, the Academy moves out of group play and into the top bracket of the tournament.

Albuquerque Academy next plays Wednesday night at 6:30 (APS Complex on the far west side) against a resurgent Valley team in the semi-finals.