Cavemen Soccer Opens New Season

By Don Eskins

With each new year comes new opportunities for fall sports teams throughout New Mexico, and new opportunities are exactly what Mario Fierro Jr., head coach of the Cavemen soccer program, says his players are looking forward to as they prepare to open the 2025 season in Las Cruces.

The Cavemen will kick off the new year on Friday, August 22, at 6:30 p.m. against the Mayfield Trojans. The JVs will take the field at 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, August 23, they’ll battle the Centennial Hawks. The JVs will get the day’s action underway at 11 a.m., followed by the varsity at 1 p.m.

“For the past two years, we’ve had a couple of really tough seasons,” said coach Fierro. “But all of our kids are excited about the new year. They’ve all worked hard during our off-season and summer workouts. So, they’re fired up and ready to go.”This season’s version of the Cavemen will be extremely young. CHS’s 2025 roster, top-heavy with sophomores, freshmen, and an eighth grader, contains just four upperclassmen.

“Of our four upperclassmen, three, Cristian Munoz, Daesen Urquidez, and Mason Fierro, are seniors. Bailey King, the fourth, is a junior,” said the CHS head coach. “With so many young players around them, they’ve already proven to be great leaders during our off-season and summer program. We’ll be leaning on them a lot this season.

“As we will be using so many young players, this will in essence be a transition year for us,” he said. “As I see it, it’s going to be a great investment in the future of Cavemen soccer.”

Despite having so many underclassmen and so few upperclassmen, Fierro said his charges have blended well.

“They have meshed well,” said Fierro. “Considering the wide gap between experienced players and youth, I think they’re ready to compete.”

Last year, the Cavemen split with Mayfield, winning the first 2-1, before dropping the second 3-0. Against Centennial, last year’s Class 5A state champion, they dropped two, 7-1 and 4-0.

“We competed well with Mayfield last year, but Centennial was a handful. Being on the road this year in front of their fans, we expect to see only the best from both teams,” said Fierro. “But we expect to compete against both of them. Getting to take on the defending state champion Centennial Hawks will be a great experience for our young athletes.”