Not one high-five was afforded Bailey Ludwig Oct. 16 after his fourth-minute rocket of a goal.

Burning Pagosa Springs goalkeeper Briar Erskine with a bullseye from 20 yards out was certainly special enough, and all the Wolverines knew it.

The problem was the senior's strike was almost too perfect, leaving virtually an entire match for the awakened Pirates to respond.

And, defending their Golden Peaks Stadium ground, they did.

The Pirates separated to ultimately prevail 5-2 in the sides' 3A Southwestern League finale.

But Bayfield kept working through the match, creating two late Viktor Sandvik free kicks.

All that was missing was a little luck. The Pagosa goalie managed to leap and snare Sandvik's smash in the 74th, and the Norwegian Wolverine junior's bid in the 78th clanged solidly off the frame, at last allowing the Pirate faithful a chance to exhale knowing the full-time whistle would soon sound.

Had both Sandvik shots succeeded however, the difference in the match would have been a very ironic one-resulting from simply thinking as quickly as a teammate had earlier done.

Fouled just outside the Pagosa Springs penalty area in the 38th minute, Bayfield's Grant Pierce gathered the ball while the ref was explaining a call, set it stationary, and drilled it past the goal to bring the visitors back to 3-2 at intermission.

Unfortunately, two more Pagosa goals won the game.

Pierce's goal had re-energized BHS, which improved dramatically this year. The team was close after the first halves in 5-1 losses at Ridgway and at Telluride.

The Wolverines were outshot 27-11 (15-7 on goal) by PSHS, but now have scored at least one goal in all but two matches-a vast improvement over 2013.

Bayfield completed its 2014 standing 1-13 overall, 1-11 in league.