Clear
32°
Email
The Rio Rancho High School girls soccer team has a chance today to win the District 1-5A championship.
But to hear Rams coach Uwe Balzis describe the situation, his team’s odds are not considered great.
With Cibola beating Volcano Vista 1-0 on Friday, Rio Rancho must beat Cleveland by at least two goals today in the regular-season finale — and that would likely only create a virtual tie with the Cougars for first place at 4-2.
Most likely, Balzis said, Rio Rancho (14-5 overall) will have to beat the Storm by no fewer than three goals when the rivals meet at 10 a.m. at Cleveland.
The Storm (9-10) are 1-4 in district and are hoping to earn an at-large bid to the state tournament when the New Mexico Activities Association releases the 12-team field, and seeds, on Sunday.
All four girls teams from 1-5A made the playoffs last year.
The top four teams get first-round byes, the other eight will be involved in first-round matches next weekend.
♦ Rio Rancho and Cleveland’s boys also square off today. It will be the final regular-season game in the state as the Rams honor their seniors when they play host to the Storm at 6 p.m.
The Rams’ chances to take the 1-5A title were ended Friday when Volcano Vista beat Cibola 2-0.
Rio Rancho (11-8 overall) is 3-2 in district. Cleveland (4-15, 0-5), which won its first three games before hitting a long, difficult stretch, is trying to play spoiler tonight.
Volleyball
Top-ranked Cleveland on Thursday night was pushed to five sets by visiting Cibola before the Storm prevailed 23-25, 25-21, 26-28, 25-11 and 15-10.
The Storm (16-2 overall) is 4-0 in district, and it was Cleveland’s second five-set victory in three days after a five-setter against Rio Rancho on Tuesday.
No stats were available on Cleveland’s win.
Also Thursday, Rio Rancho beat Volcano Vista 25-23, 25-21 and 25-16. The Rams are 10-7 overall and 2-2 in district. No stats were available.
Football
Rio Rancho, ranked No. 2 in Class 5A behind Las Cruces, returns to the field today after its bye week.
The 6-1 Rams are at Milne Stadium at 5 p.m. to face Volcano Vista (4-3) in a District 1-5A opener.
♦ Bernalillo finally earned its first victory of the 2012 season, going to Santa Fe and shutting out Capital 26-0 in District 2-4A action. No other information was available at press time.
The Spartans will face Santa Fe next week.
Cross-Country
Cleveland and Rio Rancho were in action Friday afternoon, with the Storm in Los Alamos and the Rams at the Valley Invitational. See Thursday’s Rio Rancho Journal for a recap.
— This article appeared on page 27 of the Albuquerque Journal
