NMMI Sports Press
Daniel De Rueda scored a goal early in the second half Saturday to lift the Colts to a 1-0 victory over the visiting Ruidoso Warriors and a 1-0 start to the district schedule.
“Our team played very well today,” said NMMI head coach John Barbour. “Their passing was on, their touches were on and their communication was much better than I’ve seen this season. Unfortunately we didn’t make a lot of our shots or the score would’ve been much different, but we’re happy with the win.
The game stayed on the Warriors side of the field for most of the first half, with NMMI freshman goalkeeper Rodolfo Anaya getting his hands on the ball one time towards the end of the period when he smothered the only meaningful Ruidoso shot in the first 40 minutes.
“I’ll take an easy day for our goalkeeper and he did a great job,” Barbour said. “He didn’t see a lot of action, but he was ready when it came his way.”
A few minutes into the second half, De Rueda put the Colts on the scoreboard when he poked the ball into the left side of the goal after an Alan Cordova cross came down over the Ruidoso keeper, glanced off his hand and the crossbar and bounced once in front of the goal near two Warriors.
De Rueda stayed with the play and jumped in front of the Ruidoso defender, gently nudging the ball into the net with a mid-air toe touch. Barbour credited De Rueda for staying alert and finishing the play, but said the sun provided a small assist.
“I think the goalkeeper lost it in the sun, but credit to our guys for being in position to make the play,” Barbour said.
The Colts are already in the driver’s seat in District 3/4-A/3A with a 1-0 record. Socorro and Hot Springs have already suffered losses and last year’s district champion, Hatch Valley, is 1-0-1 with a tie against Ruidoso.
“We started on the right foot and now it’s about continuing to improve and getting ready for the next game against Hot Springs,” said Barbour. “We like our team and we like our chances.”
The Colts travel to Truth or Consequences, N.M. for a 5 p.m. matchup with the Tigers on Tuesday. The next home game is Saturday at 1 p.m. against Socorro.