Runners Extinguish the Inferno, 12-9

Rio Rancho, NM (February 17, 2019) – In typical exciting fashion, the New Mexico Runners extinguish the Colorado Inferno by a score of 12-9 to take their wins streak to 2 in a row on Sunday at the Santa Ana Star Center. The Runners improve to a record of 3-5 on the season and are currently 3^rd in the Mountain Division.

New Mexico’s offense was explosive early in the game scoring three goals in the first five minutes of play. Midfielder Mario Matute got the Runners started with a goal 40 seconds into the match. Forward Jaime Rodriguez coming off a first star performance the previous week, extended the lead with the help of Midfielders Seth Gordon and Luis Loera to give the Runners an early 5-0 advantage. Sunday’s game etched the first on the season in which New Mexico’s stellar defense shutout the opponent’s offense in the first quarter.

The defense continued to be relentless allowing just four goals in the first half to the Runners’ eight. New Mexico’s starting Goalkeeper Casey Gasson led the defense collecting 12 saves in the first half on twenty total shots. The Runners offense was unselfish as well as explosive recording assists on all but three goals in the first half. Midfielder Jacob Gandarilla and Forward Miguel Garcia each registered two with Defender Patrick Pacheco getting the assist on the first goal of the game.

New Mexico’s defense showed resilience in the third quarter allowing just 2 goals throughout the course of the period. The defensive effort was just what the Runners needed as their attack was slow coming out of the half only scoring a single goal in contrast to the offensive showcase that was the first half. New Mexico played a clean game with just a single penalty the entire match, marking their lowest penalty count in a game all season.

The Runners cemented their lead in the fourth quarter scoring three quick goals in the first five minutes and their lead would be by 6 with less than ten to play. The Inferno still struggled but Alex Mosely led a late game charge scoring two goals which pieced together a 3-0 run during the last 8 minutes of play. It wasn’t enough for the Inferno as the Runners finished out front by a score of 12-9.

The final score marked the Runners’ largest margin of victory on the season with their previous two wins coming by a single score.

The Runners look to continue their win streak as they head to Denver to face the Colorado Rumble on the road in their upcoming game. The match-up will take place on Saturday February 23^rd, 2019 with a scheduled 7:00 PM MT kick-off at the Foothills Fieldhouse in Colorado.

The New Mexico Runners are an arena soccer team based in Rio Rancho, NM and current members of Major Arena Soccer League M2 (MASL2). The Runners play their home games at Santa Ana Star Center and season tickets are on sale NOW by calling 505.663.7RUN (7786). For more information on the Runners, visit http://www.newmexicorunners.com as well as LIKE, FOLLOW and SHARE on social media at @nmrunners. ###