Pintos Soccer Community Unites on the Pitch to Remember Luke Lionbarger

MORIARTY, N.M. — Generations of Moriarty High School soccer players gathered Saturday morning to honor the memory of former team captain Luke Lionbarger, taking the field in a memorial match marked by both competitive spirit and emotional reflection.

The inaugural Luke Lionbarger Memorial Alumni Game brought former Pintos back to their home pitch, where the current varsity squad edged the alumni team 1-0 courtesy of a second-half goal by Sam Pearce.

Lionbarger, 24, died May 14 alongside his newlywed wife, Elisabeth Graham Hannah, 24, in a scooter accident during their honeymoon in Sciacca, Italy. A 2020 Moriarty graduate, Lionbarger was a four-year varsity midfielder, team captain, multi-sport athlete, and 4.0 student.

Pintos head coach Jordan Allcorn, who suited up alongside former players while also coaching his varsity squad during the matchup, said the turnout demonstrated Lionbarger’s lasting impact on the program and community.

“I think it’s a testament to who Luke was that people came from out of state, all over the place,” Allcorn said. “He was just a model citizen, a 4.0 student, a great athlete, team captain, just an outstanding leader. He was the model of what we want kids to do with their time here.”

Allcorn noted that the gathering served as a poignant lesson for his current roster about life beyond the pitch.

“The core message of this being a memorial is a reminder to young people that when you’re young, you feel invincible,” Allcorn said. “Luke got six years after high school, not because he wasn’t living life properly, but because you just never know when God’s going to call you home.”

Lionbarger’s mother, Holly Lionbarger, attended the match and addressed the players following the final whistle, urging them to cherish their relationships and maintain perspective.

“Life is important. How we live life is important. How we treat people is important,” she said. “Honoring my son in this way is just a blessing and a gift to our family. Moriarty soccer meant the world to him, and this is the perfect way to honor him today.”

She emphasized the fragility of time to the young athletes present.

“We never know how much time we have left,” she said. “That phone call to their mama is important. That phone call to their siblings is important. How they treat their teammates is important.”