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 Cortez can’t completely crush Lady Wolverines
Written by: Joel Priest
4/27/2007
240 more regulation minutes remain in their 2007 soccer season. And they’ll expire before the Lady Wolverines know it.
But if they’re all played with the intensity of last Thursday’s final forty, Bayfield’s girls could be planning for a state tournament berth.
Because during that span against the Montezuma-Cortez varsity the Lady Wolverines were nearly airtight defensively, the reason for an on-field celebration despite a 3-0 defeat.
“Who are we? WOLVERINES!” was the repeated call-and-response from a jumping huddle of players, arms interlocked over each other’s shoulders, while the amused and/or confused Lady Panthers (6-2-2 overall, 1-2-2 4A Southwestern) began their post-match stretches.
In fact, in BHS’ finest match played against M-CHS—the varsity or JV squad—the Lady Wolverines again showed that their level of play against higher opposition has risen. Not too long ago Bayfield was falling by 10-0 mercy-rule counts, but then lost 6-0 at Norman Johnson Memorial Field back on March 10, and narrowed the gap again in the latest meeting.
Granted, M-CHS head coach Marc Meyer was indeed resting many players, and emptied his deep bench during play at Wolverine Country Stadium. But Bayfield was also missing regulars as well, including midfielder Raven Finegan—out with a stress fracture around her ankle—and again head coach Jen Zelinski played several freshmen for a majority of the match.
The Lady Panthers did their damage early, beginning with senior Alisa Curtis’ chip over sophomore goalie Amber Howlett from 20 yards away in the 18th minute. Freshman Shelby Janz one-touched the second score past Howlett from just outside the six in the 23rd, converting a cross from sophomore Naomi Ritthaler. Sophomore Jackie Ramsey scored unassisted in the 36th, but it would be Montezuma-Cortez’s last hurrah until the whistle at full time.
Still, there are two halves per whole of anything.
And though Bayfield’s team defense in the second half was first-rate, their offense was disjointed and produced just two shots on M-CHS senior keeper Caity Rowell—a harmless blast from near midfield by BHS senior Danielle Bemelen in the 52nd, and a doorstep shot taken by junior Liz Lovos in the 54th, forcing Rowell to make her only real save.
Howlett’s sliding double-robbery of Ramsey 1-v-1 late in the contest was the clear-cut highlight of the day for Bayfield (5-6 overall, 5-2 3A Southwestern), who begin their final push towards a possible postseason today at Ridgway. Kickoff is at 4 p.m.
With ‘must-win’ verbiage virtually glued to the next five days, BHS’ second gut-check comes tomorrow in an 11 a.m. tilt with league-leading Telluride in Down Valley Park near Placerville, then the regular season concludes next Tuesday at home (4 p.m.) with a Senior Day showdown against Pagosa Springs—against whom Bayfield played their best defensive match in a 1-0 overtime loss March 16 at Golden Peaks Stadium.
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