The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate boys’ soccer team walked away with two shutout victories over the last week, defeating the Central Grand Junction Warriors 3-0, and the Alamosa Mean Moose 4-0.
The Pirates now boast an overall record of 7-1, including a league mark of 2-0 with seven games remaining in the regular season.
The Pirates hosted the Warriors on Thursday, Sept. 18, at Golden Peaks Stadium in a back-and-forth-style game, as described by coach Trevor Gian.
He noted that the Warriors are a “very good team” with “quality players on their squad” that have a tough style of play to contend with.
The Pirates were able to knock in two goals in the first half, with two “very, very quality individual efforts” from Ryder King, Gian said.
Gian explained that King was able to beat a couple of Warrior defenders by staying strong on the ball.
“He put us up 2-0,” Gian said of King. “Huge effort on his part.”
Gian noted that after scoring, the remainder of the first half saw the Warriors controlling the majority of possession as the game continued to be a back-and-forth match.
Minutes before the end of the first half, the Pirates gave up a penalty kick in their own box, but Pirate goalkeeper Ethan Bracken came up with a “huge save” to preserve the 2-0 lead going into halftime, Gian explained.
“Definitely some good goal keeping on the day,” Gian said, noting that “saving a PK is definitely a big deal,” and helped the Pirates maintain the momentum of a two-goal lead.
Gian praised the Pirate squad and its effort on the day, saying, “Great effort all around from the team.”
He noted there were a “couple defining moments in that game that played out for us.”
The second half was similar to the first in that it was a “pretty open game,” Gian described, until the Pirates were able to knock in a third goal.
“Gavin Carter stepped up again,” Gian said, explaining that Carter “buried one” from about 20 yards out from the goal.
From that point, “we held on,” Gian said.
He also mentioned the Pirates, like most teams, are improving as the season goes on, particularly with not allowing the opposition to score.
“Definitely excited to not give up goals,” he said.
He also noted that the 3-0 scoreline might come off as one-sided, but, “definitely, the game wasn’t that one-sided.”
The following day, on Friday, Sept. 19, the Pirates traveled to Alamosa to face off against the Mean Moose in the second Intermountain League (IML) game of the season.
The Pirates sealed their second shutout of the week with a 4-0 victory.
“That was big,” Gian said, noting the Mean Moose’s record of 0-6 at that point was a little surprising.
“They’re a good team,” he added.
He went on to explain that the Pirates anticipated “going into that environment was gonna be tough,” noting it was the team’s first match on a turf field this season, paired with an intense game atmosphere.
The Pirates were able to get their first goal in the first half with Milo Deitemeyer capitalizing on a bouncing ball in the box from a Pirate corner kick.
Gian indicated the Pirates had multiple scoring chances throughout the rest of the first half, but were unable to capitalize on them.
Gian explained the match started to get a bit “chippy” with late tackles and constant chirping on the field.
Carter was issued a yellow card before the end of the first half.
Gian also mentioned that the officials did well, but that the Pirates were simply getting frustrated with the style of game being played.
Gian noted that playing on turf, mixed with rainy weather, made for a tough game that the Pirates weren’t necessarily acclimated to.
“It’s just not something you’re used to unless you play on it,” Gian said of the turf field, explaining that the surface becomes slick and quick, and demands perfect touches on the ball.
Gian praised the Pirates’ second-half performance, noting he “couldn’t be more proud of the boys and how they responded after half.”
Some frustration continued, but, “we had a great response,” Gian explained.
Angelo Medina was able to put away the Pirates’ second goal from a similar situation as the first, by jumping on a loose, bouncing ball delivered in from a corner kick.
Gian mentioned that Medina “just put himself in the right spot and was aggressive to the ball.”
He added, “We got the momentum there,” adding the Pirates began to manage their frustration more.
“I couldn’t be more proud, for such a tough environment,” Gian said.
A third goal from a corner kick followed soon after, this time with Caden Plake knocking it in from inside the Mean Moose penalty box.
A fourth goal, scored by Carter and assisted by King, followed shortly after, with Gian explaining King played a “great through ball.”
He noted that Carter was able to ride off a last-ditch challenge attempt from the Mean Moose goalkeeper to tap the ball in.
Deitemeyer picked up a late yellow card. Additional stats for either game were not available as of press time Wednesday.
Gian mentioned it was “good to get out of there with a win” and avoid any red card scenarios, noting the Pirates have some tough matches remaining in the second half of the regular season.
The Pirates have seven games left in the regular season, including hosting Alamosa, and three more league matches.
Gian also commented on how goal differential may become important with playoff seeding.
The Pirates have outscored their opponents 32-6 through the first eight games of the season.
Gian explained that the message to the team going forward continues to be that “nothing’s given, everything’s earned.”
He noted that the remaining matches against Bayfield and Crested Butte are going to be tough and that it is important for the Pirates to continue to put in the right effort and attitude in each match.
“We know we got some tough teams coming up,” he said.
He went on to explain how the team’s first game of the season in a tournament against Farmington, N.M., which the Pirates lost 3-1, provided a good moment for the Pirates to jump forward from, reiterating the importance of bringing “effort and attitude” every time they take the field.
“I think the reason we’ve been successful is the response to that message has gotten better every game,” Gian said, noting the Pirates are fighting for each other, “and it’s really showing.”
He added, “If we continue like that, we’ve got a lot to look forward to.”
The Pirates will be back in action this Saturday, Sept. 27, as they head to Bayfield to take on the Bayfield Wolverines at 12:30 p.m.
The Wolverines are currently 4-6 overall with a league mark of 1-0, putting them in second place in the IML.
The Pirates currently sit atop the IML with their league mark of 2-0, and are ranked 20th in the state’s 3A division.
clayton@pagosasun.com
>