Aspen, Basalt soccer teams fit to be tied
The Aspen Times
A tie?
Again?
Yes. Aspen and Basalt — even after two 5-minute overtime periods.
Again.
“It’s a rivalry game, a local rivalry,” Aspen head coach John Gillies said. “These things happen in rivalry games. We’ve got Roaring Fork on Thursday. It’ll be the same thing again.”
The Aspen High School girls soccer team played its second consecutive tie and fourth of the season in a 1-1 draw with valley rival Basalt on Tuesday afternoon at the AHS field.
“We’re meant to tie every team at the moment,” Gillies said. He watched an identical 1-1 tie Monday in Craig against Moffat County.
“I think this was a case of two teams struggling to find goal scorers,” Gillies said after the Skiers and Longhorns matched each other with 15 shots.
But only one goal each.
Aspen scored in the 16th minute of play when Logan McNamee attacked from the left sideline. She blasted a shot that bounced away from the Basalt keeper.
Shannon Waititi collected the rebound and netted Aspen’s goal for a 1-0 lead.
The lead held all through the first half. And most of the second.
But with 3:50 remaining in regulation, Myda Ramirez collected a pass near the Aspen goal, turned and drilled the tying goal for Basalt.
The Longhorns celebrated on the sidelines as play head into the first 5-minute overtime.
Each team had a single shot in the first OT.
Aspen had a couple of shots in the second overtime; Basalt had one.
The tie moved the Skiers to 5-4-4 overall, 4-3-1 in the Western Slope League.
Basalt improved to 4-5-2, 3-3-1 in league. Both of the Longhorns ties came against Aspen.
Lindsey Corzine patrolled the midfield for the Longhorns.
Emmalee Erickson and Shelley Briscoe anchored the Basalt defense.
“Adrianna (Bracero) was phenomenal (on defense),” Gillies said of the AHS defender. “She was the most composed girl out there.”
He also praised the play of McNamee and the tireless Annabelle Wilcox.
McNamee scored Aspen’s lone goal at Moffat County on Monday.
Aspen is scheduled to host Roaring Fork at 4 p.m. Thursday.
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