Girls open with T-ride, Ridgway
A coach not known for nervousness during a match, Oscar Cosio actually appeared almost ready to show just a little after seeing first-year goalkeeper Lanie Webb slow to arise, favoring her right side and hip, after Telluride’s Kenzie Zaumseil drilled a 28th-minute free kick over a four-player wall and Webb’s attempted leap.
“I don’t know if we’ve got anyone else who can play,” he said quietly while considering his options in net and scanning his Lady Bobcats already on the pitch during Ignacio’s 2016 season-opener Thursday, March 10.
While Webb tried proving to referee Larry Conrads she could continue – or at least stand without too much pain – between the sticks, Cosio called out hopefully to one of his returning veterans: “Bekah!”
“I don’t know how to play goal!” replied Bekah Powell, one of only two seniors shown on IHS’ initial roster, from the far side of midfield with no hesitation; music to the Lady Miners’ ears.
Not that the visitors really needed any more; Zaumseil’s strike was already her fourth – following what held as the winner in the 2nd, her second in the 19th and a quick hat-trick hit (on a free kick taken near the spot as her latest finish) in the 21st – in helping THS build up a 7-0 halftime lead, ultimately, a 10-0 victory.
But in a tone most pleasing to the Lady Bobcats’ boss, Conrads shouted “She’s good!” and play resumed. The first to try replacing graduated Krissy Velasquez, Webb totaled 17 saves in her debut and the freshman got a proper pat on the back from older sister/junior fullback Ryley after sliding to deny Telluride senior Madie Alexander a try for her very first.
Webb later received much applause for a fine one-handed stop on senior Taylor Gumble in the 54th, four minutes after junior Whitney Wells – having traded places with Zaumseil in net at intermission – began the second-half scoring. Freshman Rubie DeLuca later netted her second of the 3A/2A Southwestern League match in the 67th for a 9-0 advantage, and senior Emma Spaulding converted a Maria Carrasco pass in the 80th for the mercy-rule clincher just before full time was to be whistled.
Neither Wells nor Zaumseil faced a shot in the shutout, with the latter alertly rushing up to 20 yards out of her area to boot away a pair of remotely-possible, still-developing opportunities to not even run the risk.
Traveling to Ridgway not even 36 hours later, Ignacio received no quarter in an 8-0 loss. The Lady Demons led by six goals at the half, with sophomore Emma Haaland replicating Zaumseil’s four-goal performance to lead the victors’ way. Junior Emma Gould scored twice in RHS’ season-opener, according to information relayed by skipper Trevor Peterson, with junior Lydia Leafstrand and freshman Faith Kinne each doing so once.
Sophomore Samantha Medina was the keeper for RHS in the contest as IHS dipped to 0-2 (0-2 SWL) prior to hitting the road to face Pagosa Springs next on Tuesday, March 22.