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Bears’ efforts solid in 4-2 loss

Phil SandovalPost Independent Staff
Post Independent/Kelley Cox
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RIFLE – Tom Taucher found a lot to be pleased about with the Bears’ effort in Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to Battle Mountain to carry into their next league match at Moffat County.”The elements of our game are very good.” the coach said. “The only thing we have to do is put together 80 minutes of good soccer.”The lack of connection throughout a complete game has hurt the Bears (0-5 overall, 0-1 league) throughout the 2006 season. It also haunted them in their first home match of the year.

Unexpected goals from Mario Ortega and Ever Millian Nunez in an eight-minute span gave Rifle a 2-0 lead. Ortega’s score, in the seventh minute, came off a recovered loose ball in the penalty area and he shot it to the far inside post.Nunez’s goal, came off some lazy play by Battle Mountain goalie D.J. Van Curan. Trying to set up a play at midfield after watching Van Curan clear, the Bears junior watched Van Curan lazily roam around the outside portion of the penalty area.With no defender near him, Van Curan hit a low, lobbing shot goalward. It had just enough oomph to beat the Huskies keeper to the goal line.

And the way Rifle keeper Brandon Borgard was playing, it looked like the Bears’ lead would hold up.The Bears freshman stopped 10 of Battle Mountain’s shots on goal in the first half, pushing away two of the Huskies’ dangerous attempts prior to Nunez’s score.Then Jair Molina got involved, and the Battle Mountain forward was too much for Rifle to handle.



The freshman, on the way to a hat trick, shifted the game’s momentum when he slipped by Rifle’s defense for a score with 11 minutes, 26 seconds left before intermission. “That goal was very important to keep us in (the game),” said Battle Mountain head coach David Cope. The score whetted Molina’s appetite for more goals.After Victor Rios made it 2-all early in the second half, Molina scored the game-winning goal in the 59th minute when he ripped a high floating blast over Borgard’s shoulder. Molina also scored Battle Mountain’s insurance goal when he headed Nick Franco’s crossing pass to the far post with two minutes left.


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