The Pagosa Springs High School Lady Pirate soccer team won two games and tied one over the week, defeating Ignacio at home on 11-1 on April 26, tying Montezuma-Cortez 0-0 in Cortez on April 27 and beating Del Norte at home 10-0 on April 30.
The match against the Ignacio Bobcats was 9-1 at halftime and lasted between 55 and 60 minutes prior to the mercy rule coming into effect, coach Trevor Gian explained.
Pagosa previously defeated Ignacio 10-0 on April 16.
Gian commented that the match was highly successful, though he added that the circumstances of the game were unique due to Ignacio only having eight players available and the match being played eight versus eight.
“It was a little different — a lot of space on the field, and we were definitely able to exploit that,” he said. “But, I can’t give enough credit to Ignacio for showing up and wanting to play still. They’re showing the heart and effort they played with knowing they had no subs. They were coming in for a fight, but I really respect that.
“We were able to find a lot of space and that definitely helps us with a couple of our faster players and passing the ball a little bit.”
The coach explained that the smaller number of players on the field also led to challenges for the Lady Pirate defense, with players shifting positions and having to stop the ball one-on-one against the Ignacio offense more frequently than in a typical game.
“They played with a lot of heart, that team, and it showed in that goal,” Gian commented on Ignacio’s goal. “They just never gave up, kept looking for opportunities … and they got in there, got behind our defense a little bit and finished the shot. Really good effort on their part.”
Gian explained that the game ended seven versus eight with an Ignacio player being injured shortly before the game ended.
“We were trying to get some people some playing time and, in a sense, trying to be respectful of that team as well for them wanting to show up and play,” Gian added.
The next day, the Lady Pirates faced the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers for their final league match of the season, with both teams ending the game scoreless.
The Panthers previously defeated the Pirates 2-1 on April 13.
Gian explained that the weather for the morning game was cold and damp, and that the game was “tough,” with the team having to leave Pagosa very early to arrive in time.
“To get a league game and to go in and get a result like that,” he said, “Cortez is a very good team. They’re building up as well through their coach and their program, but, on our end, it was a lot of fight, a lot of effort, a lot of intensity trying to get first to the ball, working on the things we’re working on.
“Definitely things looked good at times, and we had our chances to win it. Cortez had their chances to win it. But finding that tipping point where we don’t lose those games, we find a way to even a tie, it’s not the most exciting thing, but it’s a quality result and finding a way to survive those games now that earlier in the season we might have lost that game. Now we’re finding ways to put ourselves in a way to win it or get out of there still with a result.”
Gian explained that there were standout performances across the Lady Pirate roster, including from goalkeeper Kiera Davis, who “kept us in with a couple key saves.”
He noted that the Lady Pirate defense played well overall and highlighted the contributions of Katelyn Fricke, who Gian explained is a younger defensive player who he feels played “really, really good.”
He also pointed out the contributions of Lady Pirate midfielders Adison Johnson, Jeidy Moreno Echavarria and Hailey Sams, and highlighted that Ximena Garcia’s “effort and attitude” on offense was “irreplaceable.”
He commented on the “immense value” that Elizabeth Currier provides the team, as well as noting that it was “nice to see” senior Taylor Elliott get playing time in a “Swiss Army role” during the game following being out of games due to a concussion.
Gian also highlighted the “fantastic attitude” and effort displayed by freshman Tatiana Monterroso.
“I think all around it was just huge,” the coach said. “Even the people that didn’t get a lot of playing time are there supporting, and we’re building this program that way. The individual efforts come and go. It’s looking at that team effort. It’s just been phenomenal the last few weeks.”
The Lady Pirates defeated the Del Norte Tigers in approximately 75 minutes before the mercy rule came into effect, with Pagosa scoring six goals in the first half and four in the second.
The Lady Pirates previously defeated the Tigers 10-0 on March 7 in the team’s first game of the season.
Gian commented that he felt “good” about the game by the end, although he added, “The beginning … we started a little slower than I would have liked. … It was basically, kind of, finishing at the goal kept that game a little tighter. Credit to Del Norte there — they really came after us for a little while, surviving some of our attempts and then getting a couple chances on their end, too. I was a little nervous there for a minute, but I was confident for our team.
“Definitely excited for the result the way it went for once we got rolling there about 20 minutes in. Happy to be able to get the seniors in there, get the juniors in there with the seniors there at the very end for kind of the last home game for those guys. I thought that was good.”
The Lady Pirates scored in the first minute of the game, although the goal was called back due to an offside call.
The team then had several additional opportunities before scoring its first goal about 20 minutes into the match.
Gian commented that the team’s finishes when attempting to score improved over the match, with players not shooting toward the Del Norte goalkeeper and placing the ball more effectively.
He added that Del Norte played a highly defensive game with a focus on stopping drives from Pagosa and then countering offensively when opportunities emerged.
He stated that senior Lauren Monterroso led the team with four goals, followed by Currier with three.
Garcia, Elliott and Johnson also scored one goal each.
Gian commented that, due to the game occurring on senior night, the team shifted its positioning in an effort to give all three seniors scoring opportunities.
He added that this effort was successful for Lauren Monterroso and Elliott, while Moreno Echavarria, who typically plays defense or midfield, got some “good looks.”
The coach commented that Elliott has shown “a lot of resiliency and a positive attitude coming back from a concussion that took most of her senior season. It was definitely nice to see her getting in there and getting involved.”
Elliott’s concussion occurred during the Lady Pirates’ April 3 match against Telluride, Gian explained.
The Lady Pirates will play the last game of the regular season against the Crested Butte Titans on May 3 in Crested Butte beginning at 4 p.m.
Gian stated that he expects the match to be challenging, with Crested Butte being a skilled team that defeated Telluride 6-0 in their most recent match on April 24.
Pagosa lost to Telluride 7-0 this season.
He added that the Lady Pirates will focus on intensity and “aggressiveness to the ball,” as well as continuing to work on elements such as first touch and maintaining possession that have been a focus throughout the season.
The coach commented that he is “looking forward to” the game to “see where we’re at in the season and a good perspective for the younger players that are returning to kind of see what’s out there, too. As we want to get better, as we’re working on things, here’s a quality opponent to take a look at.”
The Pirates are entering the game with a 6-4-3 record.
josh@pagosasun.com
