The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate boys’ soccer team began its season last weekend with a 1-1 draw in its opener against Central Grand Junction.
The Pirates played again on Tuesday, Sept. 3, defeating league opponents Montezuma-Cortez of 3-2.
Coach Trevor Gian explained that the Pirates played with a lot of heart and effort in their first game against the Central Grand Junction Warriors.
“For the first game of the season, fantastic,” Gian said.
The Pirates took the lead late in the first half with a goal from Milo Dietemeyer, Gian explained.
He mentioned the Pirates found a way to get a goal off a deflection from a ball into the box from Deitemeyer.
The Pirates took the lead into halftime and kept it until the last couple of minutes in regulation.
Gian explained that the Warriors were awarded a penalty kick for a foul inside of the Pirates’ box with just under two minutes left in the game, noting it was a “tough call.”
The Warriors converted their penalty kick, tying the game at 1-1 with just seconds remaining.
Gian noted the Pirates attempted to push forward with one final attack, but time expired.
He mentioned that the Warriors are “definitely a very good team” that is fast, talented and physical.
Gian expressed that he felt good about the result, but that giving up the tie toward the end of the match was a “little disappointing.”
“The result itself was fantastic,” Gian added.
He noted the Pirates are still working through some things formationally, and that the Warriors were able to find a lot of space up the middle throughout the game.
He noted that the Warriors only had a couple of quality scoring opportunities, one leading to a “fantastic save” by Pirate goalkeeper Christopher Young-Martinez where the Warriors were able to get in behind the Pirates’ defensive back line.
Gian explained that the Pirates switched to man-marking at times throughout the match, which helped shore up things defensively.
Gian also added that with only a few seniors on this year’s team, he is looking for a few freshmen to step up and fill out some of the varsity team’s roles.
Gian added that the team is dealing with a couple of injuries, as well.
On Sept. 3, the Pirates hosted their first league match against the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers, winning by a score of 3-2.
“It was a tough one,” Gian said.
Gian explained that the result could’ve been much different if the Pirates had played with the same level of intensity as they did against Central Grand Junction.
He noted the Pirates “kind of walked into it instead of ran into it” and looked a little complacent at the start of the match.
Gian explained that the Pirates had a 3-0 lead early in the second half after two goals scored in the first half and another scored in the second.
The Pirates’ first goal came from Esneyder Paz after a “great buildup,” of play, Gian said, adding that Paz had “a great finish.”
Gian noted the Pirates had a couple more chances to put away a few more goals.
The Pirates next two goals came from penalty kicks, with Gavin Carter and Chance Ramirez each converting one.
“Hats off to Cortez,” Gian added, mentioning the Panthers played with a lot of effort and fight.
He explained that “the game opened up, not in a great way for us,” in the second half and that the Panthers started finding more space on the field.
He explained the Pirates “got pulled apart big time.”
The Panthers were awarded two penalty kicks in the second half that accounted for their two goals.
Gian explained that there was still about 20 minutes left in the game once Panthers scored their second goal, bringing the score to 3-2.
“It got loud,” Gian said, explaining that the crowd started to get rowdy and the Panthers started gaining some momentum.
He noted that, other than the two penalty kicks, the Pirates did not give up many quality scoring chances.
“It’s just the way it goes sometimes,” Gian added.
The Pirates were able to hold on and come away with a win, and now sit at 1-0-1 on the season and 1-0 in league play.
Gian explained that it wasn’t the prettiest game, but that the team “found a way to dig in and get the win.”
The Pirates will be back in action this weekend, taking on the Aztec Tigers in Aztec, N.M., on Friday, Sept. 6, at 5 p.m.
Gian mentioned that the team will be working on becoming more balanced defensively and offensively by creating more quality scoring opportunities, rather than just relying on breakaways or counter attacks.
Additional stats were not available as of press time Wednesday.
clayton@pagosasun.com
