The Pahrump Valley High School girls’ varsity soccer team built a two-goal advantage during the second half and held off Somerset Losee for a 3-2 victory at home Monday, Sept. 14.
Paola Aguilar Alarcon scored twice for the Trojans, while Melissa Nunez-Ramirez added the eventual game-winning goal. Goalkeeper Jazmyn Herrera made several saves to help Pahrump protect its lead.
The Trojans began applying pressure almost immediately. Raylee Smith took a penalty kick less than two minutes into the game, but the goalkeeper deflected the attempt and the follow-up went just wide.
Herrera made her first save approximately seven minutes into the match, catching a Losee shot. Sydney Crotty answered with an attempt at the opposite end shortly afterward, sending the ball just wide of the goal.
Pahrump continued creating opportunities as the half progressed. Crotty played a forward pass to Avery Farruggia with 27:50 remaining, but Losee’s goalkeeper came off the line to collect the ball before Farruggia could finish the play.
The Trojans broke through with 20:22 left in the half. Crotty delivered the ball to Aguilar Alarcon, who finished the opportunity to give Pahrump a 1-0 lead.
Herrera protected that advantage with additional saves, including stops following a Pahrump handball and another Losee attempt with just under eight minutes remaining. The Trojan defense also turned away consecutive corner kicks late in the half.
Losee received a penalty kick with less than two minutes remaining and converted it to send the teams into halftime tied at 1-1.
Pahrump quickly regained control after the break. Farruggia connected with Aguilar Alarcon, who moved the ball to Nunez-Ramirez for a goal just 1:20 into the second half. The combination gave the Trojans a 2-1 lead.
Nunez-Ramirez nearly added another goal three minutes later, placing a shot just wide. Farruggia, Patience Moore and other Trojan attackers continued testing the Losee defense as Pahrump maintained its pressure.
Aguilar Alarcon extended the lead with 28:29 remaining, placing a shot into the net for her second goal of the afternoon and a 3-1 Trojan advantage. She nearly completed a hat trick about eight minutes later, directing a header toward the goal that was stopped by the keeper.
Herrera continued to answer at the other end. She caught an attempt with 30:45 remaining and later blocked another shot after a Losee effort struck the crossbar.
Losee narrowed the margin to 3-2 with 8:33 left when a corner kick traveled over the goalkeeper and was played into the net. The visitors produced another attempt two minutes later, but Pahrump kept them from finding the tying goal.
The Trojans remained aggressive through the final minutes. Farruggia had a shot caught with just over six minutes left before Smith and Farruggia each narrowly missed late opportunities.
Pahrump’s defense closed out the remaining time to secure the 3-2 home victory.
