The Battle Mountain High School girls soccer team opened its season last week with three matches at the White Pine tournament in Ely.
The Lady Longhorns recorded a 1-0 win on Friday over West Wendover. Zarina Ceja scored the only goal of the match. Mandy Lofthouse recorded two saves for Battle Mountain.
Injuries played a role in Battle Mountain’s 3-1 loss to Pershing County on Saturday morning. The Lady Longhorns were down to 11 players for the match.
Ceja once again scored for Battle Mountain and Lofthouse had seven saves.
Battle Mountain closed out the tournament with an 8-0 loss to Virgin Valley but the concern was in the stands late in the match.
According to BMHS coach David Marz, two BMHS fans were injured around 10 minutes before the end of the match when a whirlwind swept in, sending canopies whipping into and through spectators.
Battle Mountain fans rushed in with first aid assistance and a Virgin Valley parent and paramedic helped rendered aid along with Virgin Valley coach, Scott Trimming, a Mesquite detective.
The Virgin Valley coach also ran across the field and joined the Lady Longhorns after match circle to tell the team how amazed he was with the team, praising them for the heart he witnessed as the 11 players faced platoon after platoon of fresh Bulldog subs over the coarse of the match.
The Virgin Valley coach singled out Lofthouse for her outstanding saves and effort in the net.
“The first weekend for us found the ladies anxious for play and despite being limited to 11 players for two matches the team never let up and surprised themselves with their own determination,” said BMHS coach David Marz.
