The Trojans boys soccer took Sierra Vista to the wire and secured the team’s first league win, 4-3, at home Tuesday. This victory snapped a five-game losing streak for Pahrump (4-7-1 overall, 1-5-0 Sunset League).
Defender Josh Mortensen returned to the team and was instrumental in keeping the ball out of the Trojans’ goal. He was all smiles after the game and believes defense was key to the win.
“It feels good to get that monkey off our back,” Mortensen said. “Our morale has been low. We know we can win. We feel we are faster and stronger than other teams. We have not been playing as a team and today we did.”
Mortensen had missed part of the Spring Valley game Sept. 22 due to injury and was questionable for Tuesday’s game.
“I came back (to practice) yesterday,” he said after the game. “I injured my ankle in the Clark game and again at the Spring Valley game. I have not been able to walk on it. Today it was a lot better.”
Pahrump Coach Don Boulden said he believes his team is better than what its record shows. He credited defense and sophomore Paul Holmes, a recent addition from junior varsity, with being the difference with his last-minute goal.
“We put him in at the beginning of the second half to get a quick goal and it paid off,” Boulden said. “I told them today was for self-pride. You have to win it for yourself.”
Kevin Pereira scored first to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead, but the Mountain Lions (2-7-1, 2-4-0) tied the game just after the halfway point in the first half.
Adrian Maldonado scored on a header off a corner kick with 7:12 remaining in the half to give Pahrump the lead, but Sierra Vista tied the score by halftime.
Midfielder Nick Nelson scored in the opening minutes of the second half to push the lead to 3-2. Trojans dominated play for the next 20 minutes, but was unable to convert any of the 10 shots on goal. The Mountain Lions then appeared to tie the game, but the goal was waved off due to an offsides call.
Holmes pushed the Pahrump lead to 4-2 with an assist from Pereira, scoring from 10 yards out in the right corner of the net. The Mountain Lions cut the lead to 4-3 late, but the whistle blew, ending the game.
The Trojans traveled to winless Cheyenne (0-7, 0-6) on Thursday after deadline. The team will host league rival Faith Lutheran (4-6-6, 2-3-2) on Tuesday at 3 p.m.