Eagle Valley Soccer Falls to Central in Overtime Thriller

Aspen —Eagle Valley soccer’s season ended Thursday night in Gypsum with a 3-2 overtime loss to Grand Junction Central.

The Warriors took the lead late in extra time, scoring on a free kick from about 30 yards out with two minutes remaining in the first overtime half. It was a golden goal that sealed the first-round playoff defeat for the No. 7-seeded Devils, who had just finished as regular-season champions of the 4A Western Slope for only the second time in school history.

The loss stung, but the crowd didn’t leave angry. After the final whistle, fans chanted “We still love you” before walking onto the field to join their team in a final huddle. It was the biggest home crowd of the season, reflecting the culture shift this group of seniors has engineered over the last few years.

Devils coach Bratzo Horruitiner offered a perspective that mixed acceptance with heartache. “When you play, you win and you lose – that’s part of the game,” he said. “It’s like love, sometimes you put the line out there and get your heart broken.”

That sentiment echoed through the program’s recent past. This team didn’t just win a league title; they broke a long-standing barrier against Battle Mountain, the Huskies having dominated the rivalry and the Western Slope for years. The Devils won that matchup 2-1, a victory that signaled how far the program had come.

The seniors who carried this team through its most successful run yet are now moving on. Tiago Horruitiner, the senior goalie who left it all out there in Gypsum, and Yael Carrillo, the team’s second-leading scorer, are both departing. They were joined by a core group of leaders including Romeo Ramos, Angel Torres, Diego Macias, Will Nager, and Emilio Arteaga. Their departure leaves a void, but the foundation they built remains.

The future looks bright because of the talent already in the pipeline. Freshman Andrew Saguillan is a player who demands attention; on Thursday, he tied the game 1-1 with a bicycle kick, flicking the ball up to himself and flipping over it mid-air. His hair bounced as he landed, a moment that captured the electric energy of this new generation.

Junior Daniel Najera brings a ferocity and precision that looks unusual for his age. He tied the game against Battle Mountain earlier in the season with a corner kick, a play that highlighted his technical skill. On defense, junior Javier Aguayo has been scary good, often serving as the last line of defense before the goalie.

The team’s leading scorer in 2027 will be junior captain Marco Rosales, who returns next year. He watched the Central celebration from his own field on Thursday night. That stinging memory will likely fuel him, along with the other returning players, as they prepare for another run.

The season is over. The banner goes up in the gymnasium. But the work isn’t done, and the next chapter starts now.