The Lady Bears varsity team finished the Metro Championships soccer tournament by defeating Rio Rancho 2-1 for third place in the gold bracket Friday, Sept. 2. Cleveland took first in the gold bracket, defeating Cibola 2-1 on Friday. La Cueva plays St. Pius X in their next nondistrict away games at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8.
After defeating Rio Rancho, La Cueva’s girls team went to the New Mexico United game against El Paso, where they were recognized for raising more than $75,000 for the ALS Association New Mexico Chapter. Past president of the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame Gene Pino responded to the announcement on social media by saying, “Thank you La Cueva Women’s Soccer for keeping Pat Grange legacy alive and raising more money for a cure for ALS! Go Bears!”
Grange played soccer for the University of New Mexico and was diagnosed with ALS in 2011. He passed away the following year and was diagnosed with stage 2 of chronic traumatic encephalopathy after his death.
Head coach for the Lady Bears Amber Ashcraft was inducted to the La Cueva Hall of Fame, according to an announcement on social media by the LCHS Bears Soccer account.
Congratulations to Coach Amber Ashcraft as she was inducted to the La Cueva Hall of fame!
— LCHSBearsSoccer (@LCHSBearsSoccer) September 5, 2022#WALC @PrincipalLCHS @Cueva_Athletics pic.twitter.com/ikXBxpBQmk
According to the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame website, Ashcraft scored a penalty kick against Albuquerque Academy while playing for the Bears in 1992, after which the Bears would go on to win the state championship against Eldorado. Ashcraft went to the University of New Mexico and holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science.
