The Pagosa Springs High School Lady Pirate soccer team notched one loss, one win and one draw over the week, falling in a league match against Alamosa in Alamosa on April 19, winning a home game against the Durango junior varsity on April 20 and tying in a home league game against Bayfield on April 23.
The Pirates lost to the Alamosa Mean Moose 3-0, with the Mean Moose scoring twice in the first half and once in the second half.
“Alamosa’s a tough team,” coach Trevor Gian commented. “We started out right in the game. Again … a couple of the goals were not necessarily as quality. There was a little bit of slowdown on our part. One of their goals was just a fantastic finish — not much we can do there, definitely earned that. But … it’s one of those things, we went out there, we played hard, we got behind a little bit which then kind of dictated how we went back at them because then obviously we were trying to score, so things got pulled apart just a hair, but we were definitely pushing as much as we can to try to get something on the board for us.
“It was good. I know the 3-0 result looks like what it is but … we’re working on what we’re working on and things are starting to come together to where, eventually, hopefully those games will start narrowing down to a bit tighter and maybe turning the tables to where we can get a victory out of those.”
Gian stated that Alamosa’s first goal came midway through the first half.
“We got beat, kind of, defensively and then a ball across the box on a cross,” he said. “Fairly easy finish for Alamosa there, just kind of poking it into the net and they had the players there — kind of beat us goalside.”
He indicated that the second goal by the Mean Moose was off a deep cross toward the Lady Pirates’ goal.
“Made a funny bounce and they got to it before our defender or keeper could get to it,” he added.
Gian stated that Alamosa’s goal in the second half was “definitely quality,” explaining it “came off a cross and kind of a flick with the head up and over the goalie. It was pretty nice.”
The next day, the Pirates faced the 4A Durango Demons’ junior varsity team, winning 2-0.
Gian commented that the high level of intensity the Lady Pirates showed in the match was a critical factor in their victory, as well as closing gaps in the middle of the team’s formation and maintaining possession more effectively.
Pagosa scored its first goal midway through the first half when a shot from Ximena Garcia deflected off the Durango goalkeeper and rolled into the net.
“I think getting a goal first kind of turned the tide a bit on our end and gave us that first opportunity to take the lead in a while and build off of that,” Gian said.
In the second half, Elizabeth Currier expanded the Lady Pirates’ lead with another goal, bringing the game to 2-0.
“We had a good through ball,” Gian said. “She got through with her pace there and bounced the ball. She did a fantastic job taking that thing down and getting it on her feet and, you know what we’ve been working on in practice a lot is finishing, and she did a quality job. Just a nice little shot to the back post.”
The coach commented that the Lady Pirates were tired in the second half of the match, partly due to having played two games in two days, and played more defensively in that half as a result.
“It was sort of strategic, in a way, of let’s get more compact in the back, not pulled apart,” he added. “Durango had quite a bit of pace up front and through the middle and they were very tactical, good team. Just trying to slow that down, shut the lanes down, kind of pressure inside of our half when they started getting a little closer instead of jumping out and letting some passes or some speed get behind us. … And, being a little bit tired factored into that. We don’t need to go chasing balls that we might go one versus four against. Let’s just put someone up top, kind of pressure around as much as they could, someone with a little bit of fresh legs and then defensively kind of settle in and try to close out the game.”
Gian highlighted the performance of Lady Pirate goalkeeper Kiera Davis, who he stated made several critical and high-quality saves.
“I think her response in that game was huge,” he said. “It was awesome.”
He noted that her saves included foiling an airborne shot in the second half, adding she “did a great job fighting for it to get on top of it,” and another “strong shot” that she “punched out to the side.”
The Lady Pirates tied in their match against the Bayfield Wolverines, with both teams ending the game scoreless.
“Not the most opportunities in there,” Gian commented. “We had our chances, they had their chances, and I felt like it was pretty evenly matched. I definitely think our team was playing really, really well throughout the game. I know we got a little tired at the end and were just trying to get through the last bit of that game, but I think we played fantastic. I know the result is not necessarily there, but we’re developing and we’re working towards a goal, so I feel like … it’s a win to go out there and compete the way we did.”
Gian stated that the team’s focus on developing through every game and practice and its work building a positive team culture have been key contributors to the continuing improvements in play.
“I think the team’s sort of found a mindset. They’ve found an identity,” he said. “Really trying to set a culture that they have the expectations now themselves to show up and play that way, and they know they can — a little bit of belief in themselves and seeing it and doing it. A lot of practice, a lot of hard work puts them in a position to see that on the field, start realizing their potential.”
The coach added that the team also made improvements on being first to the ball, winning balls out of the air and fighting for the ball in the match against Bayfield.
“Having a little bit of intensity in our play and sort of bringing that onto the field will help turn games ... into what you saw yesterday where we are winning the possession more. Those 50-50 balls are starting to go our way a little bit more,” Gian said, referring to the match against Bayfield. “It shows when you can do that. It’s definitely been a point of emphasis, and they’ve been doing a great job working on it. That’s something they’ve got to bring out there on their own a little bit, and they definitely showed that yesterday, I think.”
The Lady Pirates will play another three games this week, beginning with a home game against Ignacio at 4 p.m. on April 26.
The Pirates previously defeated the Ignacio Bobcats 10-0 on April 16.
This game will be followed by an away league match in Cortez against the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers on April 27, beginning at 10 a.m.
The Pirates previously lost to the Panthers 2-1 on April 13.
The Pirates will return home for a match against the Del Norte Tigers on April 30, beginning at 4 p.m.
The Pirates defeated the Tigers 10-0 in their first game of the season on March 7.
The game will also include senior recognition for the three senior players on the team.
Gian commented that he expects the matches against Ignacio and Del Norte to have significant scoring opportunities for the Lady Pirates and chances for a wide range of Pagosa athletes to have playing time.
He stated that he expects the match against Montezuma-Cortez to be highly competitive and similarly challenging to the game against Bayfield, with the possibility for the game to go “either way.”
The team is currently fourth in the Intermountain League with a record of 0-3-2 and is ranked 45th in the 3A Selection and Seeding Index.
josh@pagosasun.com
