Fallon goalie Kendra Pacheco and Hailey Guerrero prevent Spring Creek from scoring late in the second half of Saturday’s 3A East soccer battle.
Photo by Thomas Ranson.
In one of the most anticipated games of the year, it was a defensive battle from start to finish.
The Lady Wave soccer team entertained first-place Spring Creek on Saturday, but the game ended in a scoreless tie after the Spartans came an interference away from winning the game in the final minutes.
Thomas Ranson
Fallon’s Franny Mori uses a slide-tackle to prevent Spring Creek from taking a shot on goal in the first half on Saturday.
The first half was even in terms of possession with each team taking shots on goal. But late in the second half, the Spartans had two goals removed due to an offsides call and then goalie interference in the final minutes.
“Spring Creek is a loud, in-your-face team that plays very physical,” Lopez said. “We were unable to play our game and often found ourselves going toe to toe with them.”
Lopez said Spring Creek took Fallon out of its element by forcing speed through its passing and possession. But Fallon’s defense rose to the challenge and stood its ground, especially in the second half.
In Fallon’s 7-2 win over Dayton on Friday, the fourth minute saw Dayton’s goalie fumble a ball kicked into the box by Bianca Lopez. Both Zoey Jarrett and Shea Snodgrass were in position for a follow-up shot, and Snodgrass was able to tap it in from inside the 6-yard line.
In the ninth minute, Hailey Guerrero received a cross from Makayle Mathisen at the top of the penalty box, dribbled to the penalty mark and ripped a shot to the left side of the goal for the second goal.
In the 13th minute, Fallon was fouled at about 30 yards from the goal where Lilly Howard ripped the free kick at the goalie who was unable to control the ball and it bounced back out to Lopez, who was about 15 yards out. She shot it back in and it again bounced off the goalie to her left side, and a waiting Jarrett, who was brought up from JV, tapped it in for the third goal.
In the 28th minute, Jarret dribbled up the right side of the field and took a shot from the right corner of the penalty box and it went over the goalie's head, who was able to tap the ball, but not enough to block it and it went in.
In the 34th minute, Sidney Jarret, who had moved up to the attacking mid position, was able to dribble in through three defenders and take a shot to the left side of the goal for the fifth goal of the game. In the 35th minute, Sofia Basurto, who was brought up from JV to play in Dayton, received a through ball from Franny Mori from about 35 yards out and dribble in with pressure on both sides. She was able to get to about inside the penalty box and shoot to the left side of the goal for the sixth and final goal of the half.
Anthony Mori/Elko Daily Free Press
Fallon’s Bryan Mendoza looks to pass against Spring Creek on Saturday.
“Offensively, we continued to work on our passing and possession,” Lopez said. “We were able to get lots of clean shots on goal and were able to also give our JV players plenty of time on both offense and defense.”
Dayton scored twice in the second half in the 59th minute on a breakaway dribble and in the 74th minute, when Fallon was unable to grab the ball and a Dayton player was able to kick it in just past the goalie’s outreached hands.
“We knew it would be tough for them, but they played well under pressure. They will continue to improve as they get more playing time,” Lopez added.
Fallon plays its final two games of the year on Friday at home against Fernley at 3:45 p.m. and at Lowry on Saturday. There will be no postseason but each team is scheduled to play one more game next week.
Boys soccer
Fallon won its second game of the year, avenging a 5-3 loss to Dayton by beating the Dust Devils on the road, 3-0, on Friday.
Cole Hamlin, Cesar Gonzalez and Yahir Ugalde each scored one goal, while Ugalde also had an assist for Fallon, which led 2-0 at the half.
On Saturday, Spring Creek broke a 1-1 tie in the second half to hand Fallon a 4-2 loss.
Bryan Mendoza and Hamlin each scored for Fallon.
Fallon plays its final two games of the year – both at home – on Friday against Fernley at 2 p.m. and Lowry at 10 a.m. on Saturday. There will be no postseason but each team is scheduled to play one more game next week.
Fallon girls coach Manny Lopez contributed to this story.
