Artesia Bulldogs soccer evens 2023 record with home shutout of Ruidoso High School
Goals by Ethan Bunt and Luis Torres propelled the Artesia Bulldogs soccer team to a 2-0 win over the Ruidoso Warriors Thursday night in Artesia.
Artesia (3-3-1) took the opening match of a two-game set against the Warriors (0-3-1) with a return contest scheduled for Sept. 14 at Ruidoso.
There's no place like home
Artesia head coach Phillip Jowers said Thursday’s home match was the second game for the Bulldogs during the young 2023 season.
The first home game was Aug. 26 against Moriarty. The Bulldogs traveled 266 miles on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2 to a tournament in Los Alamos.
Artesia went 1-1-1 during the two-day tournament defeating Clovis 3-1 on the opening day of the tournament.
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The Bulldogs lost to the host Hilltoppers on Sept. 2, 3-0, and the tournament ended with a 2-2 double overtime tie to District 4-4A foe Roswell-Goddard.
“Credit Ruidoso, they played hard. We were in the right moments at the right time,” Jowers said.
2023 goals: win district and win state
Last year the Bulldogs finished third in the district with a 2-4 record. Overall Artesia was 12-9 and lost to Santa Teresa in the opening round of the 4A playoffs 3-1.
Jowers said the Bulldogs win and lose as a team — there are no individuals on the Artesia soccer squad.
“As a team, we’re a pretty tight group here. Everybody plays multiple positions and everybody plays a role,” he said.
He continued to say that everyone on the soccer team steps up all the time no matter what happens on the field.
“That’s probably our biggest strength,” he said. “It takes 11 people to win.”
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What's next?
At 6 p.m. Tuesday in Roswell, the Bulldogs have a match at New Mexico Military Institute.
At 6 p.m. Thursday in Ruidoso, the Bulldogs play the Warriors and on Sept. 16 in Artesia, the Bulldogs entertain Clovis.
At 6 p.m. Tuesday in Ruidoso, the Warriors host Lovington.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Artesia Bulldogs soccer defeats Ruidoso High School 2-0 Thursday
