Runners Look to Continue the Win Momentum Against RGV

(January 22, 2022) Rio Rancho, NM - The New Mexico Runners return home to the Rio Rancho Events Center to play host to the Rio Grande Valley Barracudas FC on Saturday January 22nd, 2022. The Runners are coming off a huge road win against the Wichita Wings and look keep the win streak going against the Barracudas.

New Mexico has finally got their bearings as they return home from their 1st win of the season against the top ranked Wichita Wings. The Runners traveled to Wichita on January 15th and brought down the undefeated Wings by a score of 7-6 in a high intensity match. The Wings are now 4-1 and New Mexico carries a 1-5 record.

Now on to Rio Grande Valley Barracudas FC. This will be the first time New Mexico will face the Barracudas. RGV has sat out from playing since 2019 and entered the Major Arena Soccer League 2 this season with a current record of 2-0 in the Western Division. This will be one of two interdivisional games the Runners will play this season.

The Runners will face a very fast RGV team as the Barracudas played their first 2 home games last week against Amarillo where they defeated the Bombers in both matches.

It'll be a very defensive game for New Mexico and can fall in the Runners' advantage if they play the same style and energy of defense they did in Wichita. New Mexico can shut down the RGV offense with aggressive and smart play. Goalkeeper Nate Yeager had a phenomenal game in Wichita with a 79% save rate. Yeager will need to make sure he has his laces tied and perform like last week. Colton Oord & Mario Matute will also need to play the defense with the same intensity as last weekend to ensure RGV doesn't score.

The Runners has the offense to score. We've seen it in Amarillo, at home against the Kings, and against Wichita. #11 Froilan Ramirez and #22 Sergio Fuentes have had tremendous momentum to put the ball in the back of the net. This is their mission. Score.

Head Coach Steve Famiglietta says, "We've worked hard to figure out the chemistry that works with the talent we've got. We' have a system and we've figured out the octane for our soccer machine!"

It'll be a high energy game between the Runners and Barracudas and local fans can catch the action at the Rio Rancho Events Center in Rio Rancho, NM. Doors open at 4:00 PM and kick off is at 5:05 PM MT. Tickets are just $15 and can be purchased at the Rio Rancho Events Center box office.

If Runners fans can't make it, they can watch the action online LIVE by clicking the link: https://www.facebook.com/nmrunners/live