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Glenwood takes down Eagle Valley in overtime

Jeff Caspersen
Vail, CO Colorado

GLENWOOD SPRINGS – It was a little bit like deja vu.

It was only a handful of minutes earlier that Kristiam Vangegas lofted a free kick into the net to tie the game at one.

Turns out, Vangegas had a little magic left over in his foot for overtime. Setting up his shot in the left flat maybe 20 yards from the goal, the Glenwood Springs senior gave everything a good look-over, waited for the referee’s whistle and then kicked. Moments later, a raucous celebration began.



Vangegas’ high-arching shot found the net midway through the second of two overtime periods, lifting the Demons to a 2-1 boys soccer win over Eagle Valley on Tuesday.

In regulation, he buried a stoppage-time free kick from a little bit farther out to keep his team alive.

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“I can’t believe it,” said a grinning Vangegas, who celebrated the game-winner with a sprint toward midfield, his arms extended out on each side as if he were attempting to take flight. “We practice free kicks at practices, but we never expected that this was going to happen – two free kicks to give us the win.”

A dogpile awaited Vangegas near midfield, as his exuberant teammates celebrated the thrilling finish.

“My shoulder kind of hurts a little,” he said with a laugh, “but it’s all worth it.”

The perspective couldn’t have been much different for a dejected Eagle Valley side.

“A game goes like that. It’s frustrating, but it’s part of the sport, you know. It’s a great day for them. If that would have happened at my house, I’d be super happy,” said Devils coach Bratzo Horruitiner, who was miffed by a rather long stretch of stoppage time at the end of regulation and a contentious environment at Stubler Memorial Field that he said antagonized his players.

It was a downright physical game. Several yellow cards were issued, as players appeared to nearly come to blows on at least two occasions, including after the foul that set up Vangegas’ overtime free kick.

“It was an emotional game, for sure,” Glenwood coach Steve White said. “I am happy with the fact we did compose ourselves and kept playing our game and didn’t give in to anything that was coming otherwise.”

Alan Caraveo scored Eagle Valley’s lone goal in the 57th minute, taking a short pass from teammate David Ortiz and then nudging the ball past charging Demons goalkeeper Jose Betancourt.

The win bumped Glenwood to 4-7 overall and to 3-6 in the 4A Western Slope League, while the Devils dipped to 4-8 overall and to 3-7 in league play.


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