Moose ground Gryphons in first round rout

Taylor Motz (20) joined by Emily Motz (19) sprints to celebrate with her teammates following her goal in Alamosa's 3-0 victory on Wednesday. (Courier photos by Stephen Jiron)

ALAMOSA — Storm clouds loomed on the horizon threatening to literally rain on Alamosa Soccer’s figurative parade. However, in the ultimate act of foreshadowing, the ominous clouds scattered into a gentle cloud cover, and Alamosa had a party moving on to the second round of the State Tournament with a 3-0 win over Atlas Preparatory School.

Alamosa wasted no time smothering the visitors. Stout defense bore down on the Gryphons from midfield spurring a shooting clinic in the first half with 13 shots 5 of which forced saves from Atlas’ goal keeper. All that persistence paid off with 3 minutes remaining in the half. A shot off the foot of Emily Motz came from the far side of the goal and was stopped by Atlas’ keeper falling to the turf. Taylor Motz wasted no time pouncing on the rebound hammering in the go-ahead goal to give Alamosa a 1-0 lead.

Alamosa didn’t turn down the pressure one bit in the second half. A solid line in the backfield was active in breaking up any penetration on the defensive half. Which lead to a plethora of offensive opportunities.

As Alamosa senior Katy Gallegos has proven on the football field, she has the leg for 30-40 yarders. Gallegos has made a habit of firing from that range on the soccer pitch as well. Seven minutes into the second half a floater from Gallegos came down short and hopped over the keeper to add to Alamosa’s  lead.

Meanwhile offensive stalwart Katie Parkins had been launching everything she could on net. Six shots in the first half and eight in the second had only resulted in hitting two goalposts. With ten minutes remaining an indirect kick got fed up to Parkins who wheeled and sent her fourteenth shot on net to give Alamosa their third and final goal of the contest.

The win takes Alamosa to the second round of the State Tournament where the difficulty level rises. Alamosa’s next opponent is number fifth ranked Lutheran (12-2-0).

From Parker Colorado the Lutheran Lions have been efficient in the regular season. While their wins are telling, their losses  could be even more telling. The Lions play in the same league as 3A’s top two teams Jefferson and Colorado Academy and as it happens those were Lutheran’s only two losses in the regular season. It will be all hands on deck when Alamosa travels to Parker on May 12 for their quarterfinal bid against Lutheran at 2 p.m.