Second-half goal gives Sol first victory

Lawrence scores, team holds off Colorado

The Albuquerque Sol (1-4-1) earned its first regular-season win with a 1-0 triumph over the visiting Colorado Rapids U23 (3-2-2) on Thursday night.

The relief reverberated around St. Pius X High School following the first victory.

“We got the first goal and broke the deadlock, which was golden for us,” Sol manager Padraic Ferrell said. “We’re successful at what we do. Tonight we got the end product we wanted.”

Luke Lawrence’s 51st-minute strike was the difference as the Sol striker smartly tucked home the only goal off a crisp feed from Pat Pacheco.

The Rapids responded quickly to going down a goal by getting forward with more conviction.

Sol goalkeeper Tyler Pavlett preserved the lead with saves in the 58th and 60th minutes on close-range shots. Pavlett was left a spectator on a pair of Rapids crosses that drifted wide in the 81st. He did well in the 88th to get low and smother a near post effort.

The Sol maintained more possession to dictate tempo as the match wore on

after struggling with midfield spacing in the first half.

The Sol was the more assertive side, repeatedly probing the besieged Colorado defense. But most of the 11 firsthalf Sol shots and headers were off the mark or directly at Rapids goalkeeper Ford Parker.

In the 41st minute, midfielder Nicolas Perez weighted an inviting ball for Lawrence to pounce. Lawrence forced a fine save from Parker who got a strong left hand to the near post shot.

“I’m not thinking about the ones I missed, just staying positive,” Lawrence said. “I really wanted to get a goal for my teammates, who work so hard. The win is a breath of fresh air, we really needed that.”

The Sol debuted pink jerseys in honor of the club’s “breast cancer awareness night.” The Sol hosts the Rapids U23 again on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the University of New Mexico Track and Soccer Stadium.