oliveyrkitegan: Long Shot Pays Off For La Cueva Bears

It was the soccer equivalent of a Hail Mary.

And fate was sure smiling on the La Cueva Bears.

Dominated virtually the entire way, the Bears stunned Volcano Vista for the Class 5A girls state soccer championship Saturday afternoon in a most surprising way.


	State soccer Championship Saturday (Seedings in parentheses) n 5A Boys: (1) Eldorado 1, (2) La Cueva 0 n 5A Girls: (5) La Cueva 1, (3) Volcano Vista 0 n 4A Boys: (3) Farmington 2, (1) Belen 0 n 4A Girls: (3) Abq. Academy 3, (1) St. Pius 0 n 3A-1A Boys: (1) Sandia Prep 3, (3) Portales 1 n 3A-1A Girls: (5) Sandia Prep 2, (2) Taos 0 Game coverage on D5, D7 Summaries on D6

Junior defender Emily Chavez, maybe the least likely player on the pitch anyone would expect a dramatic goal from, knocked in a direct kick from about 50 yards out in the 76th minute�? and that was the difference as the fifth-seeded Bears clipped No. 3 Volcano Vista 1-0 at the APS Complex.

?To be quite honest,? Chavez said of her direct kick,�?I?ve never even practiced one from that far out.?

Who does?

Chavez was so far back, she started her run toward the ball from near the mid-line. With overtime looming, Chavez launched a perfectly placed ball.

?We needed some magic,? Bears coach Amber Ashcraft said.�?Right then and there.?

The ball flew just over the outstretched arms of Hawks goalkeeper Hannah Fenske, and clipped the crossbar as it sailed into the net. It was easily one of the most surprising game-winning goals in the tournament?s history.

?I?ll never forget that goal,? Chavez said.�?I?ll never forget this day.?

Ditto for Volcano Vista (17-4), which spent a majority of the 80 minutes camped out in La Cueva?s end. The Hawks outshot the Bears 12-2, and had 11 corner kicks to La Cueva?s one.

?It?s very frustrating,? Volcano Vista coach Samantha Lucero said.�?I feel like we dominated the whole game. I really do. It?s sad they have to go out that way.?

Ashcraft couldn?t dispute that. But as soccer coaches are fond of remarking, this is part of the sport?s unique appeal.

?That?s the way the game is,? Ashcraft said.�?One year it bounces your way, and one year it bounces against you. It?s frustrating, but that?s the beauty of the game.?

It probably won?t soothe the Hawks to know that Chavez had only scored one other goal the entire season before this one.

For La Cueva, it was the program?s 13th state title, and first since 2006. The Bears (17-5) were beaten by the Hawks in penalty kicks in last year?s championship match.

During the last three days, La Cueva knocked off Rio Rancho, Sandia and Volcano Vista, schools that all defeated the Bears in the regular season.

?That revenge was sweet,? La Cueva junior defender Hattie Schunk said.�?Everything we wanted.?

La Cueva?s defense was frantic in trying to close every avenue available to Volcano Vista. Ironically, Bears goalkeeper Taylor Chagnon�? who played the second half�? made the only two saves of the day.

The first was on a bullet from Volcano Vista midfielder Ruth Bruciaga, with about 15 minutes left.

The second, moments after Chavez?s goal, saw Chagnon deflect a long direct kick from the Hawks? Ashley Williams�? Class 5A?s leading scorer�? just over the crossbar.

?La Cueva has a great goalkeeper,? Lucero said.�?We had our chances. Unfortunately, they didn?t go in the back of the net.?

Long Shot Pays Off For La Cueva Bears

class 5A girls
? This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal