Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press

ALBUQUERQUE – Competing in its first state championship since 2019, the third-seeded New Mexico Military Institute Colt soccer team was trying to get over the hump and capture a coveted blue trophy for the first time in school history.

The biggest roadblock in the way of achieving the goal was the No. 1 ranked Sandia Prep Sundevils.

NMMI fought hard in the first half, but Sandia Prep went on a scoring spree in the second half to come away with the 5-2 win Thursday afternoon at the University of New Mexico Soccer Complex.

Sandia Prep captured its second-straight state title after winning the blue trophy during the spring season.

The Sundevils finished the fall season with a 16-game winning streak and a 21-2 overall record.

In the 20th minute, Mateo Burgos broke the ice, getting the Sundevils on the board.

Four minutes later, the Colts answered back with a goal by Ben Zimmerman that came off an assist by brother John Zimmerman.

The possession was evened out in the first half as each team made its fair share of runs.

All the momentum shifted over when Jaxon Tregembo found the back of the net off an indirect free kick during stoppage time, which gave the Sundevils a 2-1 lead at the half.

In the 49th minute, Sandia Prep gained some breathing room when Leighton Dellabarca finished a one-on-one opportunity with a goal.

Finnegan Saunders then extended the lead to 4-1 when he used a header to score of a corner kick in the 70th minute.

Burgos tallied his second goal four minutes later to give the Sundevils a four-goal lead.

With just a few ticks left on the clock, Jose Perez was able to break through the Sandia Prep defense to make the score 5-2 during stoppage time. Jose Donnadieu assisted on the scoring play.

NMMI finished the season 15-5-1 overall.

This was the third meeting between both schools. Sandia Prep is 2-1 versus the Colts since the first meeting in 2018.