The Pahrump Valley High School boys’ junior varsity soccer team overcame an early deficit and scored three unanswered goals to earn a 3-1 victory over Virgin Valley at home Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The Trojans began applying pressure immediately, putting a shot on goal that was stopped by the Bulldogs’ keeper. Corbin Larsen followed with another attempt near the 32-minute mark that narrowly missed to the left.
Virgin Valley created opportunities of its own, but Pahrump’s defense repeatedly intervened. The Trojans stopped an attempt near the 23-minute mark, and their keeper disrupted another scoring opportunity when a Virgin Valley player went down while trying to get around him.
The Bulldogs broke through with 18:40 remaining in the opening half, placing a shot into the lower-right corner of the net for a 1-0 advantage.
Pahrump continued working for the equalizer. Tyler Murphy sent a shot just to the right of the goal, while Jose Aguilar made a run toward the net that was broken up by the Virgin Valley defense. Christopher Rivera later delivered a ball from the right wing, but the keeper collected it.
The Trojans’ persistence paid off in the final two minutes of the half. Following a throw-in near midfield, Aguilar carried the ball down the left side and centered it into the box. Murphy made the finishing touch from the right side of the goal, sending the teams into halftime tied 1-1.
Jakob Riggs took over in goal for Pahrump during the second half and helped protect the tie while the Trojans continued pressing forward. An early Pahrump run produced a corner kick, although the Virgin Valley keeper reached above the traffic to knock the ball away.
The Trojans took the lead with approximately 23 minutes remaining. Anthony Aguilar worked the ball upfield while facing heavy defensive pressure and delivered a pass to Giovany Rodriguez Alvarez, who finished from close range for a 2-1 advantage.
Riggs made a stop moments later and continued helping Pahrump control its defensive end. Timothy Clarke also played an important role in moving the ball upfield before the Trojans sent a shot over the goal.
Riggs came off his line to clear away a potential Virgin Valley run with just over eight minutes remaining. Shortly afterward, Larsen sent a ball across the field toward Abraham Rivas. The Bulldogs’ keeper stopped the initial opportunity, and Virgin Valley quickly countered at the other end, but Riggs recovered to make a diving save that brought a cheer from the home crowd.
Larsen secured the victory with approximately three minutes left. He maneuvered around the Virgin Valley keeper after the goalkeeper came well off his line and finished the opportunity to extend Pahrump’s lead to 3-1.
Riggs added one more save in the closing minutes, catching a shot against his chest as the Trojans closed out the home victory. Pahrump’s defense held Virgin Valley scoreless throughout the second half, while three different Trojans contributed goals to complete the comeback.
