Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press
It was an impressive four-game home stand for the New Mexico Military Institute soccer team.
The Colts outscored their opponents 26-3 during that span.
On a sweltering Saturday afternoon, NMMI defeated the Portales Rams 11-1 at Stapp Parade Field.
The last time NMMI scored more than 10 goals in a match was back on Aug. 24, 2019 against Portales.
“We’ve been working on our offense and our attack, and when they implement it here it’s just great,” said NMMI head coach John Barbour. “They kind of had to find their own way with it.”
John Zimmerman gave the Colts (7-2-1) an early 1-0 lead when he found the back of the net off an assist by Jose Padilla.
The tandem of John Zimmerman and Padilla worked together once more as Zimmerman scored another goal later on.
Padilla then got in on the scoring spree, sending a goal right through the legs of the Portales goalkeeper.
From midfield, Jose Donnadieu then extended NMMI’s lead to 4-0 when he lofted a ball over the keeper and into the goal.
Donnadieu scored his second goal later on in the first half.
John Zimmerman then tallied the hat trick to give the Colts a commanding 6-0 lead.
The wealth continued to spread around the field for NMMI as Humberto Valdes finished an opportunity off a corner kick by Andres Moreno.
Valdez tallied his second goal off a bicycle kick from nearly five yards out that came off a corner kick by Juan Ortiz.
Ortiz extended the Colts’ lead to 9-0 just before the end of the first half.
Portales ended the shutout when Luis Corral found the back of the net on a header that came off a corner kick.
Ahead 9-1, Khristin Lovato had made her way onto the field and had some solid shots on goal that quite couldn’t get past the goalkeeper.
Lovato then got her moment and scored a goal while being assisted by Luis Medina.
Donnadieu later danced his way past the Portales defenders to chip in his third goal of the match to make the score final at 11-1.
The Colts finished with 10 assists. Padilla, Medina and Moreno each had two apiece while Ortiz, Donnadieu, Ben Zimmerman and John Zimmerman had one each.
NMMI doesn’t field a girls soccer team and because of that Lovato and other girls have an opportunity to play.
“She’s been playing with the JV squad. She wants to play at the varsity level. It’s just extremely fast,” Barbour said about Lovato. “It’s great for her to get out here and find the back of the net. It’s just huge and uplifting for her.”
The Colts travel to Ruidoso at 6 p.m. Tuesday before beginning district on Tuesday, Oct. 5 against Socorro.