Alameda loses Pirates skirmish

Alameda and Englewood have the same mascot and wear the same colors, so it was certain the blue-and-white Pirates would win the league soccer game when they met April 14.

The girls game was a heated, physical battle from the beginning. Alameda launched an early attack and got the ball deep in Englewood territory. Englewood was able to turn aside the threat and quickly pushed the ball up the field to attack the Alameda goal.

Englewood scored less than eight minutes into the game and added two more goals to take a 3-0 advantage into halftime.

Alameda coach Sean Stephans urged his team to pick up the pace and the players responded in the final 40 minutes, making it more competitive. Most of the second half was played between the 20-yard lines, but Englewood managed to add one last goal, winning 4-0.

“We have a better record this year than we did last year but I’m not satisfied where we are,” the Alameda coach said after the game. “We are struggling with our identity right now. We came into the week with a 3-5 overall record where we had three games on the schedule. We had every opportunity if we had played well, to have won last night against Arrupe Jesuit and tonight against Englewood. But those teams just seemed to want it more than we did.”

: Alameda opened with a solid attack. They took the ball deep into Englewood territory and looked for an opening for a good shot on the goal. However, Englewood defenders were able to turn aside the threat and push the ball up the field. At that point, Englewood set the tempo of play for most of the rest of the game.

: Alameda isn’t a high-scoring team, with six goals in the eight games they have played. Tania Martinez is the team scoring leader with two goals. Five players, Lexi Romero, Addeline de la Torre, Jacky Recinos and Michelle Lopez each have scored a goal for Alameda. Recinos, de la Torre and Lopez each have an assist. Jamie Gallegos has been in goal for eight games and has recorded two shutouts.

: Recinos is a team captain and midfielder.

“I played goalie some but I like playing midfield better because I am out in the open and not in goal as a target for shots by the other team,” she said. “I am a senior and my biggest contribution to our team is leadership. At midfield I do get to take shots on goal but I like to try to provide assists to teammates who have a better shot at the net.”

: Alameda is in the home stretch of the girls soccer season with three league games remaining in the regular season. They are at home April 29 against Skyview and on the road April 30 against Vista Peak. Alameda is scheduled to play Weld Central on May 1.