Alex Wagoner, 7, hits his fist after scoring a goal for Santa Fe in the boys’ 5A championship win against Sandia at the UNM Soccer Complex on Friday.
Alex Wagoner’s 73rd goal of the season was also the most significant goal in the humble history of Santa Fe High School’s boys’ soccer program.
Wagoner, a junior striker, penned a performance for the ages on Friday night, scoring all of Santa Fe’s goals, the last coming late in extra time when the top-seeded Demons won the Class 5A state championship with a rousing 4-3 win over No. 3 Sandia in the UNM football stadium.
“Ultimately,” says Waggoner, “we wanted to prove ourselves and show that we are the best.”
In the 89th minute, Waggoner collected the ball with his right foot from a distance of 20 meters and hammered a shot into the left corner, which caused a great cheer for the demons.
The golden goal brought Santa Fe (22: 1) its first state title. The Demons had never really sniffed an appearance in a championship game in this sport until this fall.
Santa Fe toppled three Albuquerque schools in the postseason – Volcano Vista, Atrisco Heritage, then Sandia. Which, hearing what Demons trainer Chris Eadie was saying, was poetic.
“I think we’re sick of being Albuquerque’s little brother,” Eadie said. “We put ourselves on the map tonight.”
Sandia (17-4) had three leads in front of a large crowd at UNM.
Sandias Connor cousins, center and teammates celebrate his goal against Santa Fe on Friday night. (Mike Sandoval / For the diary)
Christian Baker scored the 1-0 lead in less than three minutes. Connor Cousins scored a long goal against Santa Fe goalkeeper Ethan Earnest – who had strayed far from his net – into an empty goal in the 20th minute, and Cousins added in the 36th minute.
Each time, it was Wagoner who answered for Santa Fe.
In the 15th minute, his rebound goal made the game the same. Then in the 28th, an upper corner shot. And two minutes into the second half, Wagoner, a transfer from Taos, completed the hat trick.
“He’s just legendary,” said team-mate Jack Joseph, a senior midfielder. “I still have to find someone in the state who can stop him.”
Sandia later had the upper hand in the first OT. But it was Wagoner who ended it. He had eight post-season goals.
“I had space, and when you have a lot of space, you usually know they are going to fall for the fake,” he said. “So I took another touch and put it in the corner below.”
No national second had scored three goals and lost in the final since 1982.
“In my opinion we outplayed them, we just couldn’t finish our shots,” said Matadors coach Ryan Sanchez.
Just a few days ago, Sandia was ranked ahead of Santa Fe in the MaxPreps.com ranking.
“They were tired of being treated like that,” said Eadie. “They were tired of not having the respect we deserve.”
SANTA FE 4, SANDIA 3 (OT)
Sandia 3 0 0 – 3
Santa Fe 2 1 1 – 4
Classification: San, 2nd, Christian Baker (Connor Cousins); SF, 15th, Alex Wagoner (Michael Wissman); San, 20th, cousins; SF, 28., Wagoner (Ivan Lozano); San, 36th, cousins; SF, 42nd, Wagoner; SF, 89th, Wagoner (Lozano). Shots on goal: San 14; SF 12. Saves: San, Jonathan Woods 6; SF, Ethan Earnest 8. Corners: San 6; SF 3. Records: SF 22-1; S 17-4.
(Class 5A boy bracket)
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