By Don Eskins
The Cavemen soccer team, anxious to get back on the turf after closing out 2023 at 4-14-1, will kick off the new prep season this weekend, Friday and Saturday, August 23 and 24, in Carlsbad. The Cavemen are the only CHS program to open up the new season at home.
On Friday afternoon, CHS will entertain the Las Cruces Mayfield Trojans. The JVs will take the field first at 4:30 p.m., followed by the varsity at 6:30 p.m.
On Saturday morning, they’ll host the Las Cruces Centennial Hawks. The JVs will open play at noon, with the varsity game set for 2 p.m.
Last year, Mayfield posted a record of 12-8-1 and were ranked ninth in Class 5A soccer. Centennial, after cruising through 2023 at 16-4-2, were ranked fourth.
Although both Las Cruces schools will take the field as heavy favorites, Cavemen Head Coach Mario Fierro, Jr., in an interview earlier this week, said his kids were very much looking forward to facing off against the Trojans and Hawks.
“We expect to open up the new season against two very good teams. Last year, we lost to Centennial 4-0 and Mayfield 3-0,” said Fierro. “But we’re a much better team this year. Our kids are more experienced, and we have some depth.
“Whatever the case, we like our chances against both teams,” he said. “If we perform up to our capabilities, I think our kids will have a great shot at upending both Mayfield and Centennial. Playing at home should help, too.”
The Cavemen will be led by senior playmaker Alistar Bana and junior Jhovany Juarez, CHS’s leading scorer in 2023.
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