Cleveland Seniors Seal 3-1 Win to Reach NMAA Quarterfinals
Denym Lodge and Alec Garza scored twice each for the Storm, eliminating Rio Rancho in the first round of the state soccer playoffs.
By Cecilia Martin ·
Cleveland boys soccer advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 NMAA State Soccer Championships after defeating Rio Rancho 3-1 on Wednesday evening. The victory at Cleveland High School secured the Storm a spot in Friday’s match against Hobbs.
The result ended a season-long scoring drought for Cleveland against their rivals. The teams had met on Oct. 24 at the same venue, where the game went scoreless into the second half. Rio Rancho had not scored a goal against Cleveland in nearly 200 minutes of play during the regular season.
The dynamic shifted immediately in the playoff contest. Senior Denym Lodge opened the scoring three minutes into the first half with a cutback goal that ricocheted into the net. Cleveland’s Alec Garza extended the lead to 2-0 in the 15th minute with a powerful shot. Garza also had a left-foot strike that went wide shortly thereafter, keeping the pressure on the Rams’ defense.
Rio Rancho controlled possession in early stretches but struggled to convert that advantage into shots on goal. The Storm relied on defensive structure and counterattacks to maintain their advantage. The Rams finally found their footing when they scored a goal against Cleveland goalkeeper Clayton Wolfe, making the halftime score 2-1.
The second half saw increased physical play, with multiple yellow cards issued as both teams sought to change the outcome. Garza restored the two-goal margin for Cleveland early in the second period after another ricochet found the back of the net. The senior players, who faced a high likelihood of their final home games, maintained control of the ball in the attacking half.
Cleveland held the lead for the remainder of the match, though they failed to add further goals despite several chances. Rio Rancho created few clear opportunities in the final thirty minutes. The final score of 3-1 confirmed the Storm’s advancement to the next round of the tournament.
The Storm will face Hobbs at 5 p.m. Friday at Hobbs High School. Hobbs defeated Las Cruces 7-0 in their first-round match on Wednesday. The two teams previously met on Sept. 11, when Hobbs won 3-2 at home.
Source: Rio Rancho Observer
