The Santa Fe High boys soccer team can't say it didn't face challenges in its first week of the 2024 season. After enduring temperatures in the high 90s Tuesday in a physical, intense match against Albuquerque High, the Demons were pushed to their physical limits once again Thursday, thanks to 100 minutes of soccer against another Class 5A contender in Albuquerque Volcano Vista. Santa Fe High had plenty of scoring chances in the second half before Cy Anderson recorded his first goal of the season, enough to secure a 1-all tie with the Hawks at Ivan Head Stadium.
It was a match the Demons (1-0-1) surely could have won in regulation, as it dominated play after halftime. What they couldn't do, however, is find the back of the net when opportunity arose. Twice in the first 20 minutes of the second half, they had shots bounce off the post, and several beautiful passes in the box could not be converted into goals.
As Volcano Vista (0-0-1) fended off those scoring chances, Santa Fe High didn't allow frustration to cloud their judgement. Instead, poise trumped emotion. "Our team felt very calm this game," Demons senior midfielder Evan Martinez said.
"No doubt, we wanted to win, but there is also no doubt that we are proud of the way we played." Santa Fe High finally broke through when Anderson broke free on a pass down the right wing and beat Volcano Vista goalkeeper Devin Eberle to slot his shot into the lower left of the goal in the 70th minute. It had been a frustrating start to t.