An early goal by Cristo Rey brought a quick response from the Pahrump Valley High School girls’ varsity soccer team Monday, Oct. 19, as the Trojans scored nine unanswered goals for a 9-1 road victory. Avery Farruggia finished with four goals, helping lead an afternoon of steady offensive pressure as Pahrump prepares for the start of playoffs Monday, Oct. 26.
Cristo Rey took the lead with 38:30 remaining in the first half, sending a shot from the left side into the right side of the net. The Trojans immediately began working toward an equalizer, with Raylee Smith advancing up the right sideline for a shot before Sydney Crotty tested the goal with a deep, rolling attempt.
With approximately 35 minutes remaining, Michell Villalobos delivered the tying goal on a shot from distance that rolled into the net. From there, Pahrump continued creating opportunities, moving the ball into scoring position and making Cristo Rey’s defense work to contain the attack.
Farruggia threatened with a shot from the left wing that the goalkeeper deflected. Melissa Nunez-Ramirez was nearby for a possible follow-up, but the keeper collected the ball before the Trojans could finish.
Nunez-Ramirez found her opportunity with approximately 30 minutes remaining in the half. After turning herself toward the goal in the center of the field, she struck a left-footed shot into the net to give Pahrump a 2-1 lead.
Farruggia added to the advantage roughly five minutes later, sprinting up the left side and finishing for a 3-1 lead. Smith continued sending balls toward the goal from the right, while Paola Aguilar Alarcon pursued scoring opportunities and worked to connect with passes near the net.
Pahrump maintained its pressure through the remainder of the half. Nunez-Ramirez connected with Cindal Monahan on the right side for an attempt that sailed high, and Monahan later forced the goalkeeper to kick away another shot. Crotty added an attempt from the middle as the Trojans continued finding ways to challenge Cristo Rey’s defense.
At the opposite end, Jazmyn Herrera dropped onto the ball to secure possession and help keep Cristo Rey from adding to its early goal. Pahrump carried its 3-1 advantage into halftime.
The Trojans then widened the gap with three goals in a short stretch early in the second half.
With approximately 35 minutes remaining, Farruggia took a pass from Crotty up the left sideline and scored. Nunez-Ramirez followed with another goal about a minute later, extending the lead to 5-1.
Crotty and Farruggia connected again shortly afterward. Farruggia moved into a one-on-one opportunity on the left side and slipped the ball past the right side of the goalkeeper, completing her hat trick and giving Pahrump a 6-1 advantage.
The Trojans continued generating chances through shots from distance, corner kicks and passes across the goal. Monahan contributed several attempts from the right side, including one that set up Pahrump’s seventh goal. When the goalkeeper deflected Monahan’s shot, Farruggia was already moving toward the net and finished from the left side for her fourth goal of the afternoon.
Herrera stayed ready when Cristo Rey moved forward, coming out to clear a ball before collecting a subsequent shot. She secured possession again in the closing minutes as Pahrump maintained control.
Christine Williams added a deep shot that was deflected with approximately three minutes remaining. The Trojans scored again shortly afterward, then Nunez-Ramirez delivered the final goal in the closing seconds to complete the 9-1 victory.
Pahrump now turns its attention to the postseason, with playoffs beginning Monday, Oct. 26. The Trojans will play at 6 p.m., against The Meadows at Meadows.
