GRANTS, N.M. — Girls' and boys' soccer has started up at Grants High School, and it looks like it's going to be an exciting year for both teams.
First to the girls team, and their returning coach, Shaun Sanchez: Coach Sanchez took over coaching last season, and has since improved the team vastly. While scores might not consistently show it, the team is working harder than ever, and improving by the day.
On August 21 and 22, the Lady Pirates took on their first games of the season at the Sangre De Cristo Fall 2026 Tournament in Taos, New Mexico. They played a total of three games, winning one against Monte De Sol, by a score of 9-0. Players were ecstatic to have their first win under their belt this season.
The other two games, against Aztec and Robertson, also went very well for the team despite the losses.
“The girls played their hearts out and really gave it their all,” Sanchez said.
Along with their games at the Sangre De Cristo tournament, the girls team played it first home game against Moriarty on Tuesday, August 25, with the girls losing 9-0.
For the fans it didn’t go exactly how they wanted it to, but Sanchez said the team learned a lot from the game, and will use it as a learning experience as well as a motivation for future games.
That experience paid off recently, as the Lady Pirates took their second win of the season on Saturday, August 29. The Lady Pirates defeated Gallup, using penalty kicks to secure the victory.
The Lady Pirates return to the pitch on September 8, when they’ll travel to Gallup to take on the Bengals once again.
As for the boys team, head coach John Malcom returns along with assistant coaches Brian Rychner and Ricardo Sanchez.
This year, the boys team is seeing lots of new faces, a majority of them being underclassmen gives Coach Malcom hope for team potential and growth.
The team has just completed their first tournament, the Sangre De Cristo Fall 2026 Tournament, in Taos, New Mexico, where they played three games spread over the weekend.
The team was extremely optimistic about playing in a different location, giving them the opportunity to face never before seen teams.
The team’s first loss in the Tourney was a 2-0 defeat against Bloomfield. Then, after a loss to Taos in their second game, the Pirates played well against Portales in the closing game, losing 5-1.
On a different note, the boys played a school they have never before seen, Oak Grove Classical Academy on Thursday, August 27. That game ended in a tie, and the Pirates will be back in action on Thursday, September 3 against Cottonwood Classical at “The Port.”