After losing three straight, the Pagosa Springs High School Lady Pirate soccer team broke through for two straight wins.
After the Lady Pirates’ 2-1 loss to Alamosa on Thursday, April 9, coach Trevor Gian noted he really liked the way his team was trending, and he just thought that they needed to break through.
The Lady Pirates did just that, winning 2-0 at Lake County on Saturday, April 11, and 6-1 over their rivals at Bayfield on Tuesday, April 14.
The Lady Pirates now sit at 4-4 on the season after getting consecutive wins for the first time this season.
The loss to Alamosa was one that Gian stated he thought the girls had a real chance in.
The Lady Pirates got down 1-0 early and it stayed that way for the rest of the first half. The Mean Moose scored a quick goal in the second half, and the Lady Pirates were stuck chasing from a 2-0 hole.
They were able to get a goal from Terriana Cage in the second half to cut the deficit to one, but they were never able to get closer.
“We really brought it in the second half, which was great,” Gian said. “Unfortunately, [we were] chasing a 2-0 game. I’d much rather like to see us potentially not have to chase the game, but maybe be able to dictate things on our end.”
The Lady Pirates came out two days later and listened to their coach.
The team beat Lake County 2-0 and dictated the pace of the game, especially throughout the midfield, for most of the game, noted Gian.
Ximena Garcia scored the first goal for the Lady Pirates from about 25 yards out to put the Lady Pirates up by one in the first half.
The game stayed that way for the rest of the first half and most of the second half until Xyra Belarmino added the second goal as the Lady Pirates closed the game out.
“Holding on there [for a] 2-0 win was huge,” Gian said. “Especially, [I] can’t stress enough, the mindset to be able to step out on that field after a four-hour bus ride on an early morning, cold weather, the response from the girls.”
The Lady Pirates then headed to Bayfield on Tuesday for a rivalry game against the Bayfield Wolverines looking to back up their win from Saturday.
The team went down 1-0 early, but didn’t panic, noted Gian.
They responded with six straight unanswered goals, four of which came in the first half.
Garcia had a hat trick, Ellie Vining had two goals and Cage had a goal of her own.
Cage, Izzy Ratcliff and Tatiana Monterroso each had an assist.
“We were a little flat again to start, which is unfortunate, but our response after that was absolutely everything I’ve asked of this team,” Gian said. “The results come and go, but to know we have that kind of heart and that kind of mentality was exceptional.”
The No. 30 Lady Pirates will now look to carry that momentum into their second matchup with Montezuma-Cortez this Saturday, April 18, beginning at 11 a.m. in Cortez.
The Panthers are the No. 10-ranked 3A team in the state and come into the matchup with a 6-2 record.
The Panthers previously beat the Lady Pirates in Pagosa Springs 4-0 this season.
“We’ve seen their results,” said Gian. “We know how quality they are. But, it’s also a moment in time for us to show our quality and who we are.”
jsellner@orourkemediagroup.com
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