Eagle penalty kick claws Pirates

GRANTS - Overtime has been the word this year for the Grants High School Pirate boys soccer team, and the Oct. 21 game was no exception to that trend. The Pirates hosted the Belen Eagles on a match up that was sure to be exciting and tense.  It was a cold day and as if the cold was not enough, the players had to endure a cold and blissful night as the Pirates were defeated in overtime 2-1. “The score did not reflect it, but we shut them [Belen] down at the end,” said sweeper, Austin Spencer. 

The score by the end of regulation was 1-1 after a Belen goal in middle of the first half and a Pirate goal by Landon Chavez late in the first half. The overtime saw two rejuvenated teams take to the field and a see-saw battle continued with no clear victor decided; this would have to be decided it in a shootout. And just like the old western movie, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” there would be good, bad and ugly shots with tense moments leading up to two players facing each other off.

The bad.  For the Pirates, first up was sweeper Seth Gordon, who usually makes his penalty kicks (3/3), but had his shot deflected.

The good. Next up mid-fielder Richard Fortenberry' s bullet shot went low and left and the goal keeper was unable to react to it.  Chavez shot next for the Pirates; his shot also went low and left and the goal keeper was not fast enough for it.

The real good. Goal keeper Andy Eaton went next and his shot was high and up the middle, so high that the Belen goal keeper, Orlando Pena, was unable to reach.

The ugly.  Finally, it was left up to freshman mid-fielder Benjamin Sarraccino, who had the pressure to score and win the game for the Pirates. The tension was thick in the air as everyone held their breath.  His shot hit the goal keeper directly in the chest and it was no good.

Belen made three shots and it was them up last for a fourth and final shot; this could be the game winner if they made it. The fate of this game for the Pirates was in the hands of Eaton. Up for Belen was Diego Baca, whose shot went mid-high and to the right; Belen would walk away with a win and Grants would fall to 9-8 overall and 1-4 in district play.  Coach Mike Hatfield said of his team, “I am proud of them for having overcome so much adversity this year.”  The Pirates have had nine overtime games and four have been decided by penalty kicks. With this loss their chances for making state now rest on an at-large bid. According to the New Mexico Soccer Associations the Pirates are ranked ninth and they should have a good opportunity to go to state. They face unranked Volcano Vista today.  The lady Pirates defeated the Eagles 2-1 with Haili Emerson scoring one goal and Sierra Baca scoring the second goal.