St. Pius X girls soccer wins back-to-back 4A state titles
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (BVM) — The St. Pius X Sartans had to wait a long time to defend the Class 4A girls soccer state title they claimed back in early November 2019, but their patience paid off Saturday at the University of New Mexico Soccer Complex when they completed their COVID-delayed spring season without a loss and captured their second consecutive state championship.
The top-seeded Sartans fell behind (10-0-2) No. 2-seeded Hope Christian (10-2-1) early in the title match when Hannah Gutierrez put the Huskies in front with a goal in the 22nd minute before St. Pius X junior Lauren Salas netted the equalizer nine minutes later. The match remained tied until the 55th minute when senior defender Nicole Taibbi scored on a free-kick shot from 40 yards out which sailed just under the crossbar and into the net.
The Sartans defense made the lead stand up as they did throughout their shortened season, allowing only six goals in 12 matches. Senior goalkeeper Alicia Barela had five saves in the final and finished the season with 30.
While Salas and Taibbi accounted for the scoring in the championship, St. Pius X was led throughout its unbeaten season by senior Emma Donlin and junior Kyera Chavez. Donlin finished with 13 goals and 16 assists for a team-best 42 points while Chavez was with 30 points on 11 goals and eight assists.
The victory over Hope Christian gave the Sartans their 10th state in program history, which trails only La Cueva (16), Eldorado and Albuquerque Academy (11 each) for the state’s most all-time in girls soccer. St. Pius X also won three straight state titles from 2013-2015 and four straight from 2004-2007.
