The Ram boys soccer team lost the first two games but won the third in Nevada Saturday.
The Ram team, now in its second season, started the day against two-time Class 1A state champions, the Regals of Iowa City Regina. Regina has played in the state tournament seven of the last 10 years.
Adding to the challenge was the absence of goalie Cael Fisher, who had played virtually every minute of every game this season.
Senior Victor Santos provided strong goalie play, coach Carl Behne said, and the defense adapted to the change in personnel. Junior Gutierrez scored two goals and Luis Velazco scored one. Regulation time ended with a tie score at 3. Per the tournament schedule, the teams bypassed overtimes and went straight into penalty kicks to break the time. The Rams lost 4-3.
It was “a grind of a morning,” behne said, as game against the Gilbert Tigers started just six minutes later.
Santos played goalie against the Tigers and held them to two goals, but the final score was 2-1, just as it was when the two teams played other April 25. The lone Ram goal was scored by Yunior Carballo. The Rams missed a penalty kick with four minutes to play I the match, missing an opportunity to go into PKs after regulation time.
The Rams ended the day with a 5-1 win over the Kuemper Knights. Gutierrez scored all five goals for the Rams and Austin Delp had an assist. Sophomore John Goble got his first varsity start at goalie and played “a very strong game,” Behne said.
“Over all we had a good day. There are lots of little things to improve on still, but we grew as a program. I’m so proud of the boys,” Behne said.
