The Pagosa Springs High School Lady Pirate soccer team went 1-1-1 in their past three games and now sit at 5-6-1 with two games remaining in the regular season.
Last week the Lady Pirates were slotted to host Ignacio on Thursday, April 23, to kick off the week, but Ignacio was not able to field a full roster so they had to forfeit, giving Pagosa Springs the win.
A day later, the team traveled to Alamosa for a rematch with the Mean Moose on Friday, April 24.
The Lady Pirates lost to the Mean Moose 2-1 earlier this season at home, and coach Trevor Gian noted he thought that they had a real shot to beat them in that game.
Alamosa got the better of Pagosa Springs once again, though, beating the Lady Pirates 3-0.
“[I] knew it would be a fight,” said Gian. “You know, we started out, unfortunately, kind of a little flat, gave up an early goal.”
Gian emphasized that he was proud of the way the Lady Pirates responded after the early goal by Alamosa, but the hole they dug themselves on the road against a tough opponent was just too much to overcome.
By the end of the first half the Mean Moose were up 3-0.
The girls came out in the second half and looked like a different team, noted Gian.
Though they didn’t score, they didn’t allow another goal and, more specifically, they didn’t let Alamosa dictate play the way they did in the first half, emphasized Gian.
The Mean Moose are the No. 16 in Colorado 3A girls’ soccer.
The Lady Pirates were back in action at home on Tuesday, April 28, against their rivals, the Bayfield Wolverines.
The Lady Pirates beat the Wolverines 6-1 in Bayfield earlier this year, but Tuesday’s game was different.
The Wolverines worked a 1-1 tie with the Lady Pirates.
“Obviously, that’s a team we beat previously,” said Gian. “We knew what we could do against them. And at the end of the day, we were a little flat at times, again, just a little late to react to the ball, not as aggressive as I would say in that second half of Alamosa.”
Gian explained that he would have liked to see the girls possess the ball more and find more quality looks.
Ximena Garcia scored the team’s lone goal. She took a through ball played by Katelyn Fricke and found enough space to put the ball in the back of the net.
Bayfield shadowed Garcia all game to try and eliminate her from the game, but she found a way to put one in the back of the net, the coach indicated.
The Wolverines responded though, tying the game up from 18 yards out on a free kick. They kept the Lady Pirates out of the back of the net the rest of the game and the score remained 1-1 until the final whistle.
“I feel like that’s a game we could have finished up at least 3-1,” Gian said. “But, we’ll try to exercise some of those finishing demons at Del Norte. But, again, proud of the resiliency of the team.”
The Wolverines are the No. 44 team in 3A.
The Lady Pirates have two more games left in the regular season.
Their final home game is today, Thursday, April 30, against Del Norte at 4 p.m.
The Tigers, who are 4-4 on the season, are currently ranked No. 36 in 2A and lost to the Lady Pirates 4-2 earlier this season. The team will also honor their seniors against Del Norte for senior night.
The Lady Pirates’ final game is Friday, May 1, at Fruita Monument beginning at 3 p.m.
The Wildcats, who are 3-5-2, are ranked No. 27 in 5A.
As of Wednesday, the Lady Pirates were ranked 32nd in 3A and hold the final playoff spot.
The draw against Bayfield didn’t hurt the girls, but it didn’t help either, noted Gian.
He emphasized that the girls will be looking for results in their final two games in order to solidify a playoff spot.
jsellner@orourkemediagroup.com
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