Albuquerque 2022 Preseason All-Metro Boys

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's a bit of a youth movement in New Mexico as a number of juniors factor in the Preseason 11 and other players to watch this season. The Albuquerque area often goes under-recruited but has produced some high-end talent in recent years, including one Albuquerque high school standout now playing at perennial NCAA powerhouse Maryland. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FORWARDS:</strong> Sandia's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='54665' first='Connor' last='Cousins']</strong> is the most decorated of the returning forwards. Last year Cousins netted 19 goals en route to Albuquerque All-Metro first-team honors and all-state honors. ... Sandia Prep's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='54666' first='Finn' last='Saunders']</strong> returns following a second-team All-Metro showing in 2021. While helping Sandia Prep to a 21-2 season, Saunders netted 26 goals and had nine assists. ... <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='54667' first='Paul' last='Melendres']</strong> from Eldorado is back after earning Class 5A second-team all-state honors in 2021. He was among the state's leading goalscorers last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MIDFIELDERS: </strong>Rio Rancho features two of the state's top returning midfielders in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='13316' first='Jamal' last='Bynum'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='54672' first='Javier' last='Trujillo']</strong>. Bynum, a senior, had eight goals and eight assists last season and garnered 5A first-team honors. Trujillo, more of an attacking player and only a junior, finished with 10 goals and six assists and earned second-team all-state honors. ... Hope Christian's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='13338' first='Kaiden' last='Giron']</strong> was a 4A second-team midfielder selection last season. He posted modest stats with six goals and three assists but his value was in defending. ... La Cueva's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='13249' first='Chase' last='Ricker']</strong>, a junior, was a 5A second-team selection last year. He scored eight goals and added 11 assists in the Bears' high-powered offense that more than five goals a season in 2021.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENDERS:</strong> Two of the three preseason All-Metro defenders hail from Albuquerque Academy -- <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='54668' first='Jude' last='Logan'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='13286' first='Ethan' last='Saiz']</strong>. Logan made second-team Albuquerque Journal honors last season. Logan also was a 4A all-state first-team pick and Saiz was a second-team selection. The pair helped the team to a 4A state title last fall. ... La Cueva not only was one of the state's top offensive teams but also among the best defensively en route to a 17-2-1 season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='54669' first='John' last='Mee']</strong>, a 5A second-team all-state performer is back for the Bears. He chipped in with a goal and two assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GOALKEEPER: </strong>La Cueva junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='13257' first='Cole' last='Bachuzewski']</strong> gets the nod as preseason keeper in a strong group of Albuquerque netminders. Bachuzewski sported a GAA just above 1.00 while compiling a 15-2-1 record with seven shutouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:shortcode --> [table id=218 /] <!-- /wp:shortcode --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->