Two varsity soccer games were stopped prematurely last weekend – one in Clovis, the other in Las Cruces – but not because of a mercy rule.
Because of out-of-control parents.
During a second-half stoppage, an irate parent of an Oñate girls soccer player walked onto the pitch at the Field of Dreams complex when the Knights played host to Valley on Saturday, Vikings coach Greg Perez confirmed.
Two players, one from each team, were tangled in a physical play and went to the ground together in the 65th minute. A second Viking, midfielder Natalie Sanchez, came over to try to break them apart. Sanchez earned a red card – and ejection – for using some foul language directed at the Oñate player, Perez said.
The mother of the Oñate player rushed out onto the field and physically put her hands on Sanchez near the collar, according to Perez.
Game officials decided it was in the best interest to stop the game, Las Cruces Public Schools officials said. Valley won, 2-1.
Las Cruces district athletic director Ernie Viramontes and Superintendent Stan Rounds said the Oñate parent has been banned for a full calendar year.
“The official had no control over the game,” Perez lamented.
• Also Saturday, at Leon Williams Stadium in Clovis, there was another example of a soccer parent gone wild. This was more verbal than physical.
The Wildcats were playing host to Lovington’s girls, who are in their first season.
Clovis led 7-0 late in the second half, when two parents, one from each school, began an intense shouting match, Lovington athletic director Chief Bridgforth said.
The Lovington parent had been screaming obscenities throughout the game, and a Clovis parent eventually told her to shut up, Clovis AD Dale Fullerton said.
Clovis assistant AD Darren Kelley, who was at the game as the school’s on-site administrator, asked the Lovington parent to leave the stadium; she refused, directing some more R-rated profanity at Kelley, Fullerton said.
Kelley called the police, and the police escorted the woman out of the facility. The match was then called with a few minutes remaining.
Bridgforth said he since has met with that fan, and she said she was remorseful for her behavior. She also voluntarily decided not to attend any more games this season, Bridgforth said.
“We need to get a hold of it,” New Mexico Activities Association executive director Sally Marquez said of controlling fan outbursts.
VOLLEYBASH: The 2014 Rio Rancho/Cleveland Volleybash tournament begins Friday at Rio Rancho High. The field, as usual, is pretty strong.
Pool A at Rio Rancho features the Rams, Albuquerque Academy, Artesia, Los Alamos, Hope Christian, Farmington, Centennial and Goddard.
Pool B at Cleveland features the Storm, St. Pius, Clovis, Española Valley, Pojoaque, Piedra Vista, Santa Teresa and Goddard.
The championship match is 5 p.m. Saturday at Rio Rancho.
ACADEMY CROSS-COUNTRY: Friday afternoon’s Albuquerque Academy Invitational cross-country meet brings together just about all of the top programs in the metro area (Rio Rancho is a notable exception) and a few top squads from outside the metro.
Cleveland, Eldorado and La Cueva are among the top local programs challenging the host Chargers on their popular course.
Los Alamos and Gallup are on the non-metro schools’ list, which includes Grants, Laguna Acoma, Miyamura, Moriarty, Quemado and Pecos.
Cibola, Manzano, Highland, Sandia, Albuquerque High, St. Pius, Sandia Prep, Valencia and Volcano Vista also are entered.
The boys varsity begins at 3 p.m., the girls at 3:30.
BOARD ADDITIONS: Three new members were introduced at Wednesday’s NMAA board of directors meeting.
Dr. Craig Cummins, the superintendent of Truth or Consequences Municipal Schools, replaces Alamogordo’s retiring George Straface. Rio Rancho district athletic director Bruce Carver takes the spot previously filled by now-retired Alamogordo AD Lawrence Johnson. And interim Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Brad Winter also had his first meeting. When APS gets a permanent superintendent, he or she will replace Winter.