The Pahrump Valley High School boys’ varsity soccer team scored twice in the final 14 minutes to earn a 3-3 tie against Equipo Academy at home Thursday, Sept. 24. The Trojans trailed 2-0 at halftime and 3-1 midway through the second half before completing the comeback.
Pahrump created chances early. Lorenzo Montaño sent a shot from the right side to the goalkeeper in the opening minute, then sprinted onto a pass from Rafael Sanchez Veliz and got a foot on the ball before it went wide. Ryan Nunez Manzo also put a shot on goal, while Miguel Frias-Esparza, Blake Edie-Dixon and Rene Gonzalez Valdez made defensive plays to protect the Trojans’ end.
Goalkeeper Jessie Barajas-Roman handled several Equipo attacks, catching a pair of bouncing balls and blocking a shot shortly after the visitors took the lead. Equipo scored on a long shot with about 15 minutes left in the first half, then added a second goal when a corner kick curved into the net.
Jakob Riggs took over in goal for the second half as Pahrump pushed forward. Roberto Gonzalez-Gonzalez got a foot on a cross from Sanchez Veliz, sending it just wide, and Tc Hone put a free kick through Equipo’s defensive wall before the goalkeeper stopped it low.
The Trojans broke through on a corner kick from Nunez Manzo with about 26 minutes remaining. The ball went into the net to cut Equipo’s lead to 2-1. Moments later, Hone struck the crossbar with another attempt.
Equipo restored its two-goal lead with a shot into the upper left corner, but Pahrump continued to press. Hone set up Nunez Manzo for a goal with about 13 minutes left, bringing the Trojans within one.
With about seven minutes remaining, Nunez Manzo sent the ball in from the right side to Gonzalez-Gonzalez, who scored the equalizer.
Pahrump then had to defend the tie. The Trojans broke up an Equipo run near goal, and Riggs blocked a late shot before Gonzalez Valdez cleared the ball. Equipo had a penalty kick in the final two minutes, but the attempt rolled wide of the right post. The match ended moments later with the teams tied 3-3.
