Runners Wrap Up Season 6

RIO RANCHO, NM -  Season six of arena soccer came to an end Sunday afternoon at the Rio Rancho Event Center in front of an energetic crowd on Hispanic Heritage Day. Coming off a win in their last home match, the Runners entered the contest in search of their second win of the season in front of the home fans. Unfortunately, Runners fell in overtime to the Empire Jets in a highly competitive and thrilling contest that ended with a heartbreaking golden goal.

The Jets took off early in the first quarter, with Andres Jordan Diaz connecting with Mike Zarate for the first goal of the day. It took until midway through period two for New Mexico to respond. Nick Cashmere scored the equalizer on his own, and just 30 seconds later Michael Stephens gave the Runners their first lead of the game, converting a pass from Vince Aragon into a goal. 

It took less than a minute into the second half for the Jets to get back level with a Mohammed Samim Haydari goal. Empire then mounted a mini-run in quarter three, as Myo Set scored to put the Jets back in the lead. Terry Zamora tied it back up for the Runners just shy of the two-minute mark, and the two clubs entered the final period deadlocked at three goals a piece.

The Runners struck first in the fourth, as Atif Azimi netted the go-ahead goal in the third minute of play. The score marked Azimi’s third in the last three games after recording the first of his career last weekend in Chihuahua. The two teams traded blows in the ensuing minutes, with Mohammed Samim Haydari and Benji Rogers responsible for the points. Nathan Cruz and Andres Jordan Diaz then poured in two straight to go up 6-5.

With five minutes left in regulation, Nick Cashmere found Benjamin Rogers for the equalizer to send the season finale to overtime as the crowd at Rio Rancho Event Center waited with bated breath. Less than half a minute later Andres Jordan Diaz, who also scored the go-ahead goal at the end of regulation, got position on Yeager to end the match in overtime.

The game featured six ties and eight lead changes and was the only overtime game the Runners have played this season and the only game decided by a one-goal margin. New Mexico drops to 1-2 all-time in overtime games. The Runners finished 1-11 on the season 7th in the Midwest division. Brian Weems now has the offseason to prepare for his first full season as head coach of the New Mexico Runners. Season 7 will kick off December 2025 with more details to be announced in the coming months.