Ignacio girls score twice for new skipper 

Certainly not at full strength, personnel- or talent-wise, Ignacio Girls’ Soccer still got its 2025 season underway Thursday afternoon, March 13, hosting Pagosa Springs. And with PSHS head coach Trevor Gian and new IHS skipper Gretchen Gruber agreeing to play the match 9-v-9, ‘nine’ ended up being the deciding number on the scoreboard. 

Unfortunately for the Lady Bobcats, the visitors reached it first via four goals before halftime and five after. But even in a seven-goal defeat, IHS (0-1 overall, 0-0 2A Intermountain League-South) gave Gruber, new assistant coach Anita Mayes and even advisor/former HC Alisha Gullion something to build upon before time expired. 

Sophomore Maliyah Martinez converted a second-half penalty kick, denying the Lady Pirates a shutout, and sophomore Bailey Briggs also marked against senior goalie Keira Davis. 

With junior incumbent Bella Lorenzini unavailable, senior Caydence Vezeau took the loss in net for Ignacio but made several close-range saves and had no fewer than eight before intermission. PSHS senior Hailey Sams broke the ice just four minutes in, and junior Adison Johnson made the score 2-0 in the ninth off an assist from junior Terriana Cage. 

Sams struck again in the 21st minute, and Johnson did likewise in the 25th after intercepting an Ignacio clearing pass. Martinez threatened to get the Lady ’Cats on the board in the 31st, but her unsupported rush on Davis was stopped short, and Cage eventually closed out the half with a 39th-minute shot off Vezeau’s near post. 

But it didn’t take Pagosa Springs long to get re-started offensively after the break; Johnson took a pass from junior Xyra Belarmino and, while increasing the guests’ advantage to 5-0, completed her hat trick in the 42nd minute. 

With expected wintry weather holding off just long enough, Pagosa Springs (1-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 3A Intermountain, a.k.a. Southwestern) next visited Buena Vista (2-0-1, 0-0-0 2A Tri-Peaks) on the 15th but fell 7-0 to last season’s Class 2A State Runner-up. Following Spring Break, Ignacio will resume play, Tuesday, March 25, and begin league work against Del Norte. Kickoff time is presently set for 4:30 p.m.