East Mountain Faces High-Flying Santa Fe Prep in A/3A Quarterfinal

The stakes are set for a thrilling showdown in the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) Class A/3A Girls Soccer State Tournament as the No. 7 East Mountain Timberwolves prepare to face the heavily favored No. 2 Santa Fe Prep Blue Griffins in the quarterfinal round on Friday in Santa Fe at 3 pm.

While both teams earned their way into the final eight, the statistics suggest the Timberwolves will need to play their most disciplined match of the season to pull off an upset against one of the state’s elite programs.

By the Numbers: Santa Fe Prep’s Dominance

Santa Fe Prep enters the tournament as a powerhouse, boasting an impressive 18-2-0 overall record according to MaxPreps.com. Their success is built on a near-impenetrable defense and a hyper-efficient attack.

• Goals For (GF): 106
• Goals Against (GA): 13
• Team GAA: 0.556

The focal point of the Blue Griffin attack is senior forward Marley Belyeu, who leads the team with a staggering 55 goals on the season, averaging 2.8 goals per match. Belyeu’s offensive partner, junior Harper Rosen, has been the primary setup threat, tallying 16 assists to fuel the Prep offense. The team’s defense is anchored by goalkeeper Maya Crawford, whose 0.578 Goals Against Average is among the best in the state.

East Mountain’s Path and Key Contributor

East Mountain, representing the A/3A classification, secured its spot in the quarterfinals with a resilient season, finishing with an overall record of 12-7 and ranked 7th in the division under first-year head coach Hayden Crowley.

The Timberwolves rely heavily on the offensive production of sophomore midfielder Jenna Dinwiddie, the team’s leading scorer, who has put away 14 goals this year and contributed significantly with 6 assists, giving her a team-leading 34 points. The Timberwolves will need Dinwiddie to be sharp and capitalize on every opportunity against Prep’s formidable backline.

East Mountain’s surprises on offense includes the ability of defenders like Olivia Kern and Jaycelyn Head to advance on the wings and score goals before opposing defenders realize what is happening.

The East Mountain defense has also been tested throughout the season, conceding 37 goals overall. The unit will face extreme pressure to contain Santa Fe Prep’s relentless scoring threat.

Match Outlook: The Midfield Battle

For East Mountain to compete, they will need to disrupt Prep’s possession in the midfield and prevent clean service to Belyeu. The game is likely to be won or lost in the middle of the pitch, where key players like Dinwiddie and SFP’s Harper Rosen will dictate tempo.

If East Mountain can play with the tournament energy that defines the state playoffs and keep the game tight in the first half, they have a chance to challenge the Blue Griffins’ dominance.

Extra Motivation
Look for seniors Olivia Kern, Kayla Arellano, Yeraly Gutierrez, Dalyn Ortiz, Jaycelyn Head and Samantha York to give their all as they look to extend East Mountain’s season into the next round of the state tournament.

East Mountain Lady Timberwolves Roster

Jersey #	Player	Grade	Position
0/19	Addison Rushing	Fr.	GK (Goalie)
1	Genesis Navarro Chavez	Jr.	GK (Goalie)
2	Haven Tomlin	So.	FORW (Forward)
3	Kayla Arellano	Sr.	FORW (Forward)
4	Olivia Kern	Sr.	D (Defense)
5	Cadence Wilson	Fr.	MF (Midfield)
6	Yeraly Gutierrez	Jr.	D (Defense)
7	Dalyn Ortiz	Sr.	MF (Midfield)
8	Jaycelyn Head	Sr.	D (Defense)
9	Samantha York	Sr.	D (Defense)
10	Jenna Dinwiddie	So.	MF (Midfield)
11	Violet Wojcik	Jr.	D (Defense)
12	Alisia Romero	Fr.	FORW (Forward)
13	Mackenzie Thomas	Fr.	D (Defense)
14	Avaihabella Valdez	Jr.	MF (Midfield)
15	Emme Felan	Fr.	FORW (Forward)
16	Lia Puccini	Fr.	FORW (Forward)
17	Amelia Meiser	Fr.	FORW (Forward)