The Pahrump Valley High School boys’ varsity soccer team continued creating opportunities until the final whistle Monday, Aug. 31, in a hard-fought 4-2 road loss to The Meadows Mustangs.
Pahrump applied pressure throughout the opening half, beginning with a run toward the Mustangs’ goal that forced the defense to knock the ball out of play. The Trojans maintained the attack following the restart and sent a shot toward the net, but The Meadows cleared it away.
Another promising opportunity developed when Rafael Sanchez Veliz connected with Lorenzo Montaño, who was tripped approximately 25 yards from the goal. Sanchez Veliz took the ensuing free kick, but the ball struck the Mustangs’ defensive wall.
The Trojans continued pushing forward, weaving the ball up the field before earning back-to-back corner kicks. Randall Pangilinan fired a shot through traffic that deflected off a defender, then followed with another strong attempt that struck the goalpost.
The Meadows broke through with 21:25 remaining in the first half, sending a shot beyond a diving Jessie Barajas-Roman to take a 1-0 lead.
Pahrump responded by working to regain possession and repeatedly moving the ball into the attacking third. One of the Trojans’ best chances came on a breakaway that developed from deep in their own end, but a sliding defender knocked the ball away before a shot could be taken.
The Mustangs extended their advantage to 2-0 with six minutes left in the half. Even after falling behind by two, the Trojans remained on the attack, earning a free kick near the sideline and working the ball toward the goal in the closing moments before halftime.
Pahrump opened the second half aggressively. Pangilinan sent an early attempt over the crossbar, while the Trojan defense cleared a Meadows corner kick at the opposite end.
The effort paid off with 29:45 remaining when Omar Becerra Gastelum found the back of the net, cutting the Mustangs’ lead to 2-1 and bringing the Trojans back within striking distance.
Barajas-Roman helped keep the margin at one moments later, dropping to stop a Meadows shot before quickly collecting the rebound. The Mustangs eventually converted a penalty kick with 20:30 remaining to restore their two-goal advantage.
Pahrump continued searching for a response. Roberto Gonzalez-Gonzalez nearly connected on a corner kick, getting his foot to the ball before watching it roll just outside the post. He later took a free kick from approximately 25 yards out and delivered another well-placed attempt toward the goal.
Barajas-Roman remained steady on the other end, collecting a deep bouncing shot with just over six minutes remaining. As The Meadows attempted to slow the pace, the Trojans kept pressing and produced another shot on goal with a little more than two minutes left.
Pangilinan then delivered the play of the night for Pahrump. After taking a throw-in and receiving the ball back, he struck a well-timed shot from approximately 35 yards away that sailed over the goalkeeper and into the net, trimming the deficit to 3-2 with less than two minutes remaining.
The Mustangs answered with a similar long-distance goal in the final moments to set the 4-2 score, but the Trojans’ late push reflected a team that continued attacking and competing throughout the entire match.
*Photos are available at pvcnphotos.com.
