Pirate Girls Soccer Scores Two Huge Wins

By GANNON HANEVOLD

Moapa Valley Progress

The Moapa Valley High School Girls Soccer team took on their biggest obstacle of the season last week, with two home games against the top two teams in the 3A Sunrise.

The Pirates started their tough week on Monday, October 8, with a match against Sunrise Mountain who entered the game at the top of the divisional standings. The Miners ended the Pirates’ season last year, and have already topped Moapa in two close games this season. The Moapa players were ready for some payback on their new rivals.

Early in the first half, the Pirates controlled possession and moved the ball into the Miner half. Finally, Italia Bracamontes would score off of an assist by Bailee Andrew. Her shot banked off of the top of the right post and back into the net for an impressive score from the left.

Just moments later, the Miners, trailing 0-1, answered. At the half, it would still be tied at one apiece.

In the second half, it seemed as if Sunrise Mountain’s confidence was rising with more attacks into the Pirate territory. But a defense led by senior Lainey Cornwall helped put an end to that. The Moapa Valley offense finally found its rhythm again, and Bailee Andrew scored off of a perfect cross pass.

Now leading 2-1, the Pirates had to protect their lead for the final fifteen minutes. They played tough defense, and dominated the rest of the match. Finally, the Pirates dethroned the top seeded Miners.
“I think it was just out of this world!” said Pirate coach Lisa Cornwall. “I don’t even know how to describe it. I always believed the girls could do it but if they don’t believe it, it doesn’t matter what I think.”

The team carried that mindset into their second consecutive home game two days later against second ranked Virgin Valley.

Early on, Peyton Schraft opened up the Pirate offense with a shot that just missed over the crossbar.
But it would be the Bulldogs who controlled the tempo for many moments in the first half. A near goal saved by sophomore Mackenzie Staheli highlighted Virgin Valley’s many chances. Regardless, it would stay 0-0 at the half.

In the second half, it was an evenly matched contest. The Pirates consistently put pressure on the Bulldog defenders, but were hesitant to take shots at the goal.

Eventually, the Bulldogs caught a break on the other end. A foul gave them a penalty kick. But the shot flew yards over the crossbar and Moapa was let off the hook. Less than ten minutes later, the Pirates got a penalty kick opportunity of their own. Italia Bracamontes lined up the shot and drilled it into the right side of the net. With just minutes left, Kyra Larsen made impressive late saves from her goalkeeper spot to hold onto the victory. The Pirates defeated the Bulldogs, 1-0.

Coach Cornwall praised Larsen’s keeping. “She’s been pivotal, she said. “To me, if she hadn’t been in there we would’ve lost. She did her job on Wednesday and proved why she should be the keeper.”

As for her team’s determination, Cornwall said, “We have a lot of seniors who were tired of never coming away with a win. We tied them twice last year but haven’t beat them. They said, ‘We’re not going out like that. We’re winning this game.’”