Desert Pines’ late penalty kick nets tie with Valley

Desert Pines’ boys soccer team knows what it’s like to be on the losing end of a close match.

In Tuesday’s home clash with Northeast League-leading Valley, the Jaguars caught a close break.

Forward Sergio Gonzalez buried a penalty kick in the lower right corner two minutes before the final whistle to help the host Jaguars to a 1-1 draw with the Vikings.

“I’ve shot a lot of PKs, but this one was probably the one I was the most nervous — at home, with only two minutes remaining,” Gonzalez said. “But the fans came, and I can’t let them down.”

After a scoreless first half, the Vikings (3-1-2, 2-0-1 Northeast) set the pace in the second half by outshooting Desert Pines 7-3, with two shots on goal.

“We struggled a little bit in the midfield, getting everything together and thinking like a team,” Desert Pines coach Judas Perez said. “But I guess they were forcing it, came in pretty strong like they normally do.”

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Valley’s Luis Salmaron drew Desert Pines goalkeeper Angel Guzman off his line, then dished the ball to Juan Carlos Gomez, who gently redirected it to put the Vikings up 1-0.

But Gonzalez pushed forward in the closing minutes, bruising into the penalty box, where he was dragged down by Valley goalkeeper Jesus Barrientos and denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity, leading to the match-tying penalty kick.

“There was a rebound, and I was gonna shoot just for shooting it,” Gonzalez said. “I saw the whole goal open, but the goalie just came straight at me, so I had to take it, and that’s when he came out (on the challenge).”

Barrientos and Desert Pines’ Guzman each finished with four saves.

With the tie, the Jaguars (2-1-2, 1-0-2 Northeast) earned a point to stay two points behind the Vikings, who sit in a three-way tie at the top of the league after wins by Canyon Springs and Las Vegas on Tuesday. Within striking distance of the top, Desert Pines remains in contention for its first playoff appearance since 2005.

“I’ve used that (as motivation) the last two years,” Perez said. “We missed (the playoffs) by one point both years. Most of my players are seniors, so they know there’s no tomorrow.”

Gonzalez said he is confident this year’s Desert Pines squad could break the postseason barrier.

“The team seems to be more competitive this year,” he added. “Not just in one part. The defense is getting stronger. The middles aren’t just strong, but they have a lot of creative ideas, and the forwards have a lot of speed and definition. I’m pretty confident that we can make it to the playoffs, and we’re going to be a very competitive team.”