Improving Cavemen Head to Cruces

By Don Eskins

Carlsbad High's Cavemen soccer team battled a very tough Las Cruces Mayfield Trojan squad to a 0-0 tie on Friday, August 21, and then fell victim to the Centennial Hawks 2-0 on Saturday, August 22. Both games took place in the Cavern City.

The two losses dropped Cavemen head coach Aaron Babcock's team to 0-2-1 on the year.

Although coming up short for wins against both of the City of Crosses-based teams, Babcock said his kids continue to show improvement.

"After such an intense game with Mayfield on Friday, our kids bounced back to play Centennial really well on just one night's rest," said the Cavemen coach. "However, in battling Centennial, our inexperience showed up once again as we made a couple of costly mistakes that really hurt us.

"But that's part of the game and part of the process. Mistakes are going to happen; we just need to learn how to respond to them when they do," he said. "Our kids have had a lot on their plates for the last few weeks, but they're handling it well. They're really buying into a new and developing culture; that, too, is also part of the process. Doing so takes time, but they're moving faster than our staff anticipated."

Carlsbad's boys, now in Las Cruces, will compete in the Las Cruces Public Schools Invitational on Friday and Saturday, April 28-29.

Coach Babcock said his kids couldn't be more excited about competing in the Las Cruces event.

"Our boys are ready and hyped to play in the LCPS tournament," commented the Cavemen coach. "In training this week, we've built on their motivation and excitement to polish up some of the areas in which we're still struggling.

"We'll take on Mayfield in our first game at the LCPS Tourney," said Babcock. "It's always interesting to play the same opponent twice, even more so when the games are only a week apart."

According to MaxPreps, the Cavemen are scheduled to take the field against Mayfield at noon on Friday, August 28.

Note: While the Cavemen varsity is still battling and still in search of their first victory of the new season, not so for their JVs. Against Mayfield, with only seconds left on the clock during the final period of play, Noel Garcia booted the ball into the back of the net to give CHS a 1-0 triumph over the Trojans.