During the 2012-13 soccer season, the Montezuma-Cortez High School girls’ soccer team lost 10 of their 15 games. Seven of those losses came by two goals or fewer.
Intent on turning tight losses into wins, 17 members of the M-CHS high school team have been playing for the Tri-City Lady Panthers, a U18 club team coached by M-CHS head coach Nate Ross.
So far this season, the Panthers have enjoyed great success, winning 11 of their 12 games, while playing teams from Durango, Montrose, Glenwood and Telluride.
“The Western Slope League is one of the most competitive leagues in the area,” said Ross. “The girls are playing fantastic. Quite a few girls are scoring goals, which is nice.”
Among the players mentioned by Ross as major contributors on the team were defenders Courtney Cashner and Miceal Allsup, midfielders Emma Youngquist and Nicole Kibel and forward Gabriella Wolf.
“Offensively, (Wolf) has scored quite a few goals,” Ross said. “She’s kind of our top scorer right now.”
After wrapping up their league season with two games on Saturday, Oct. 26, in Cortez, the Lady Panthers will prepare for a tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Nov. 1-3.
According to Ross, the tournament will feature high-level teams from a variety of states, including New Mexico, Arizona. The Lady Panthers will be the only team from Colorado.
“It will be exciting to go out of state and see some teams that we do not normally see,” said Ross of the upcoming tournament.
And ultimately, playing new teams, staying in shape and remaining competitive is what the club season is all about.
“We’re playing a lot of really competitive teams. and that’s really going to help us moving into our season.”
Based on the team’s hard work this offseason, the 2013-14 high school campaign promises to be a good one for the Cortez Panthers.
imaclaren@cortezjournal.com