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Basalt soccer rolls past Rifle

Dale Strode
The Aspen Times
The Longhorns' offense kicked into high gear Thursday afternoon in a nonleague match against Rifle at the Basalt High School soccer field. The Longhorns rolled to a 7-1 victory.
Jim Ryan/Special to The Aspen Times |

The Basalt High School boys soccer team turned up the offense Thursday afternoon.

In the first half, at least.

The Longhorns rolled past Rifle 7-1 on their home field in a nonleague match.



Basalt’s boys improved to 2-3-0 to open the season with Tuesday’s win over the Bears.

Basalt will take on the same Rifle team Tuesday in the Western Slope League match between the two.




That match is set for 7 p.m. under the lights in a special homecoming contest at Rifle High School.

“We played one half really well,” Basalt head coach Brent Hayes said. “The other half was not really what we liked.”

He said the Longhorns’ play deteriorated after their early scores against the Bears, who dropped down to 3A boys soccer this fall. They formerly played a 4A schedule.

“We’re so young. And we haven’t played together much,” the Basalt head coach said, adding that the Longhorns were missing two starters Thursday and another had to leave the pitch during the game.

That forced a number of on-field alignment changes for the Longhorns.

“Our keeper played really well,” Hayes said of Basalt goalie Pablo Rivera.

Rifle’s goal also came early in the match, answering Basalt’s first goal.

The Longhorns scored the next six goals in a row.

Daniel Arroyos and Enrique Rodriquez each had two goals to lead the Basalt offense.

“The defense was able to play well (after the early Rifle goal),” Hayes said. “All things considered, to get a win like that was good. It’s hard for us to get continuity (with all the lineup changes).”

He said he expects a different contest when the two teams meet again next week in the conference match.

“Certainly, they will be a different team on Tuesday,” Hayes said. “It’s their homecoming … under the lights. They’ll be fired up.”

Next Thursday, Sept. 18, the Basalt boys soccer team will host Roaring Fork before a home match against Grand Valley on Sept. 20.

dstrode@aspentimes.com