Alamosa exorcises demons in victory over Pagosa Springs

ALAMOSA— Alamosa took over a home game against Pagosa Springs in a 5-goal shutout for a commanding win at home on Saturday Sept. 16th.

Alamosa soccer has something of a jaded history with Pagosa Springs. In the last 5 games these two teams played, Alamosa has been outscored 13-5 losing four of them with the last three coming in a skid that dates back to 2014.

Needless to say the boys came out looking to get a monkey off their back. As has become customary for them, Alamosa took their time finding traction getting out shot 6-3. That is until Antonio Esteban drew first blood.

Esteban sprinted to catch up to a cleared ball on a breakaway and put it in the back of the net to put Alamosa up by a goal in the 10th minute of the first half. Alamosa would take that lead into the locker room. Returning  for the second half of play Alamosa cranked the pressure up to 11 and put on a shooting gallery with 14 shots 8 of those getting on net.

Early in the second half Jose Mateo-Andres squirted a pass between defenders and found Esteban on a rush who potted his second of the game. Sophomore standout Claudino Pedro-Francisco tacked on the final 3 goals with assists from Mateo-Andres, Esteban and Austin Blankenship.

As the sun beat down the temperatures rose and so did the tempers. Midway through the second half Alamosa’s Jose Mateo-Andres and Pagosa’s Jason Monterrosa exchanged words and shoves the interaction ending with each being given yellow cards.

Keeper, Jon Spangler was kept clean only being called to action for three saves.

Alamosa seems to have taken on a multiple personality; at home the Mean Moose is 3-0 out scoring opponents 12-2, on the road they’ve struggled to a 0-4 record by a combined score of 5-11. Alamosa defeated Crested Butte 3-2 Sept. 2nd within the confines of Alamosa High School Stadium. They’ll get an opportunity to shake off this Jekyll-Hyde act when they face Crested Butte again this time on the road, Friday Sept. 22nd at 4 p.m.