Cavegirls Cage Lovington’s Wildcats, 3-0

By Don Eskins

The Carlsbad Cavegirls are off and running in 2025 and, might we add, quite successfully.

Behind senior Hayden Brose’s three-goal performance and a stingy Carlsbad defense, the Cavegirls rolled over the Lovington Wildcats 3-0 in their season inaugural in the Cavern City on Tuesday night, August 19.

It was a great way for Carlsbad’s girls, who struggled through a 5-15 season last year, to kick off 2025. Although not perfect on the field in their victory over Lovington, Cavegirl head coach Misty Long said she liked what she saw from her girls.

“Although we’re still trying to figure a few things out, I was very pleased with the way our girls played,” said Long. “I was especially pleased with the way they moved the ball and their work rate.

“I felt like the biggest issue we had against the Wildcats was our fitness,” she said. “But that’s something we can definitely fix.”

While Long was happy with the effort she saw from her kids overall, some, she said, played exceptionally well.

“Don’t think I can say enough about Hayden’s performance tonight. When we needed goals, she got three of them for us,” said the Cavegirl coach. “A leader for us, she led the way for our work rate and attack mode. She also did a great job of helping to set things up.”

But Brose wasn’t the only Cavegirl stepping up big.

“Natalia Franco, Cassie Bielstein, and Thalia Payanes did a great job of shutting down the middle of the field for us,” said Long. “Lovington tried to go down the middle, but these girls helped to keep them at bay for most of the night.”

With an opening-season victory tucked safely behind them, the Cavegirls will now turn their attention to the Las Cruces Invitational on August 29-30. At the City of Crosses tournament, they’ll take on the Gadsden Panthers in first-round play.

“Gadsden will be a good opponent for us. They always work hard and will get after you. The Las Cruces tournament usually always seems to be full of teams with an attitude like Gadsden’s,” said Long. “But we’re looking forward to the challenge there. It’s going to give all of our girls an opportunity to grow.”