Boys soccer: Aspen falls to Vail Mountain School

The Aspen High School boys soccer team, facing a speed-dating version of a schedule, is ready for ex-ed.

The Skiers finished the early compressed portion of their schedule with a 4-1 loss to state-ranked Vail Mountain School on Tuesday afternoon at Aspen School District Stadium.

The match was the fourth in five days for the Skiers, who will scatter next week for the annual week of experiential education.

The Skiers split two matches in the Jefferson Academy Tournament on the Front Range last weekend.

Then, they made the long trip to Craig on Monday for a lightning-shortened 3-3 tie with Moffat County.

The Skiers struck early against Vail Mountain School, threatening to add another victory in the speed-dating schedule.

With Vail Mountain pressing the attack, the Skiers launched a quick counterattack with a key header at midfield from Harry Kahn.

He directed the ball downfield to Aspen teammate Jorge Esparza, who tapped the ball to Guillermo Flores.

And Flores buried a shot into the back of the net for a 1-0 Aspen lead midway through the opening 40-minute half.

The Gore Rangers answered with an offensive flurry, including a shot off the Aspen goalpost.

With 13:30 to play in the half, Vail Mountain School tied the match on a set piece. Pablo Aziz took the corner kick for the Gore Rangers, sending an arching ball into the box where Thomas Singleton headed it into the Aspen goal.

The 1-1 tie held through halftime and 13 minutes into the second half.

A crisp passing exchange from D. Cunningham to Kevin Garcia to E. Zdechlik to Liam Hurley produced Hurley’s go-ahead goal.

JP Elmblad pushed the lead to 3-1 for Vail Mountain School with a goal with 13:10 to play.

Hurley added the fourth goal for the Gore Rangers, who improved to 3-1-0 on the season. Vail Mountain School defeated Basalt 5-0 last week,

Aspen moved to 2-3-1 overall with the Tuesday night loss.

At the Jefferson tourney last weekend, Aspen beat Arvada 5-1 and lost 1-0 to host Jefferson Academy.

The Aspen boys will break for ex-ed before returning to match play Oct. 1 when Moffat County visits Aspen School District Stadium.

dstrode@aspentimes.com