The Pahrump Valley High School boys’ varsity soccer team established an early lead and continued creating opportunities throughout the match Monday, Sept. 14, earning a 3-1 road victory over Boulder City.
Omar Becerra Gastelum opened the scoring just two minutes into the match. After the Trojans generated several attempts near the goal, Becerra Gastelum found the net to give Pahrump a quick 1-0 advantage.
He struck again six minutes later after making a run along the left side and entering the penalty area. A Boulder City defender brought him down inside the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Becerra Gastelum placed the ensuing shot into the upper-left portion of the goal to extend the lead to 2-0.
Boulder City answered in the 12th minute with a shot from the middle of the field. Goalkeeper Jessie Barajas-Roman dove in an attempt to make the save, but the ball rolled into the left corner of the net to cut Pahrump’s advantage to 2-1.
The Trojans continued pressing forward following the goal. Ryan Nunez Manzo tested the Boulder City goalkeeper with an attempt from the right side, while Lorenzo Montaño and Eli combined to advance the ball toward the goal.
Randall Pangilinan later sent a through ball ahead to Montaño, who raced toward it before the goalkeeper came off his line to disrupt the opportunity. Rafael Sanchez Veliz also had an attempt deflected by a defender near the goal.
Pahrump remained active during the closing minutes of the first half. Leonel Ceniceros sent a deep shot toward the net, and Roberto Gonzalez-Gonzalez drove up the middle before placing an attempt toward the left corner. The Boulder City goalkeeper dove to deflect the shot, leading to a Pahrump corner kick.
Pangilinan helped initiate several more attacks with passes along the left sideline and through the middle. He was tripped while making a late run, giving the Trojans another penalty kick, but the attempt sailed over the goal.
Pahrump carried its 2-1 lead into halftime and continued applying pressure after the break. TC Hone cleared the ball away from the front of the Trojans’ goal early in the second half before later contributing to the attack.
Montaño chased down a pass near the Boulder City goal, but the goalkeeper made the stop. Hone then had an attempt deflected out for a corner kick. Rene Gonzalez Valdez delivered the ball from the right side, but the keeper secured it.
The Trojans added an insurance goal with approximately 21 minutes remaining. Gonzalez-Gonzalez made a run toward an open ball and fired an attempt that was deflected by the goalkeeper. Sanchez Veliz followed the play and knocked the rebound into the net, giving Pahrump a 3-1 advantage.
Hone nearly helped create another goal late in the match when he reached a bouncing ball and directed it toward the center as the goalkeeper came off his line, but no Trojan was able to finish the play. Gonzalez Valdez and Sanchez Veliz also generated opportunities during the closing minutes.
Pahrump protected its two-goal lead through the final whistle to complete the 3-1 road victory.
