Eager to follow up on a quality outing three days earlier against Del Norte and finding themselves down just one goal at halftime, Ignacio again couldn’t find a second-half breakthrough Monday, April 24, and fell 3-0 to longtime 3A/2A Intermountain League nemesis Center.
“We’re going to try to win a game; every time we go out we’re going to try,” head coach Daniel Sanchez had declared after the Lady Bobcats’ 4-0 home loss to DNHS, anticipating the neutral-site rematch with CHS after seeing a pair of promising debuts from backup goalkeeper Bailey Wyatt and forward Leela Rosa.
Put at the front of IHS’ attack along with, most often, Chamisa Edd to provide another option for midfield distributors Ryley Webb and Tori Archuleta, Rosa battled not only the Lady Tigers but also a well-wrapped thigh/quad area and nearly managed to help generate at least two late scoring chances.
Standing in for regular Lanie Webb, held out due to concussion protocol, Wyatt withstood not one, but two Del Norte penalty kicks (the first hit off her right-side post in the 40th minute, and she directly saved the second in the 51st) and totaled a quality 16 saves out of 20 shots-on-goal.
“It was her first time in goal and…I would say two or three of the goals weren’t even her fault,” said Sanchez. “I thought she did a great job considering she’d never played before. Real proud of her for that.”
“Leela … it was her first game as a soccer player,” he continued. “She came from the basketball team, and did a tremendous job. So I think those two [Rosa and Edd] up front are pretty good; we’ll see if maybe we can get a goal – or a win – down the line.”
But despite a fourth consecutive match holding an opponent to four scores or fewer, the Lady Vikings (2-10, 2-9 against the combined IML) managed to deny Ignacio both inside Pagosa Springs’ Golden Peaks Stadium.
Goalie Giselle Almeida was credited with a reported two saves, while supported by goals from Alexa Molinar, Lanie Dillon and Aaliyah Porres (assists were credited to Andrea Molina, Jade McBaer and Jasmine Rodriguez) in dropping IHS to 0-8, 0-8.
DNHS’ first-half goals came from Kendra Parra (2’) and Sophia McConnell (27’), with Parra (70’) and Ashley Rivera (81’) marking in the second in support of keeper Bailey Jones.
“Hopefully we’ll have some more players next week and be able to compete,” said Sanchez, looking ahead to not only the Center match but also an April 26 visit from Bayfield and a trip to Del Norte on the 27th. Results were unavailable at press time, prior to hosting Alamosa on Saturday, 4/29, at 11:00 a.m.
“Bayfield here at home…should be a good battle,” Sanchez said. “I’d like to hold them down.”
The Lady ’Cats will then travel to Ridgway – a trip originally slated for April 22 – on Tuesday, May 2, for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff, and then journey to Telluride on the 5th for another 4 p.m. start.