SUNRISE REGION: Valley finds way to finals showdown with Las Vegas

It’s a wonder Terry Pryer has any hair left to pull out or any fingernails left to chew.

But the Valley boys soccer coach certainly has one thing: A team that knows how to win close games and is headed to a Sunrise Region final.

The Vikings, who have made thrilling matches second nature this season, stopped hearts again Thursday, nipping Southeast League champion Tech, 2-1 in overtime in a regional semifinal at Bettye Wilson Park.

Valley (11-4-5) will meet Las Vegas (14-4) in the regional final Saturday at 10 a.m. Tech finished the season 12-4-2.

Carlos Flores’ unlikely goal three minutes into the extra period touched off a celebration that Pryer described as “pandemonium.”

Valley played a long ball up the left side of the field. Flores and a Tech defender got to the ball almost simultaneously with the Roadrunner player appearing to attempt to clear the ball. It ricocheted off of Flores about 15 yards from the goal and floated over Tech’s goalkeeper and into the net.

“I die a thousand deaths,” said Pryer, whose team is 7-2 in games decided by one goal. “I don’t know what to say.”

Valley took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Julio Borjas early in the second half, but the Vikings received a yellow card to their goalkeeper and a red card to a defender on the same play midway through the second half and had to play short-handed for the rest of the match.

On the restart after the cards were issued, Tech’s Luis Carranza tied the match, setting the stage for overtime.

“We panicked when we scored, and it took us 10 minutes to settle (down),” Pryer said. “But then we were OK. We’ve had so many close games, that it just kicked in. When we went to overtime, I just told them, ‘Let’s score early and go home. Carlos or Joey (Lopez), you’re going to score.’

“It wasn’t exactly how I pictured it, but we’ll take it.”

Las Vegas 4, Green Valley 0 — Joaquin Rivas had two goals and an assist as Las Vegas eliminated the Gators (16-2-4).

Much like it did in its quarterfinal matchup against Silverado on Tuesday, Las Vegas capitalized on two defensive mistakes in the first half to score twice.

Rivas scored the first goal in the 26th minute, taking control of a loose ball near the Green Valley goal after the Gators goalkeeper and a defender had communication problems.

His cross two minutes later caromed off a defender and to teammate Ruben Amezcua, who buried a quick shot for a 2-0 lead.

Rivas was in front of the net early in the second half and scored on a shot inside the right post to up the margin to 3-0, and Angel Martinez finished the scoring, rapping home a loose ball in front with five minutes remaining.

Las Vegas goalkeeper Roger Zaragosa made six saves to earn the shutout.