Another well-played game, another painful loss for the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys soccer team.
Squaring off at home against Alamosa on Sept. 30, the Panthers were undone by a late defensive breakdown, losing 2-1 and falling to 5-6-0 on the season.
Playing fundamentally sound soccer throughout the first half, M-CHS scored its only goal of the game after forward Eddie Martinez was fouled inside the penalty box.
Stepping up to take the penalty kick for the Panthers was senior Taren Lanier, who calmly found the back of the net to give his team a 1-0 lead.
“The first half for us was good,” said M-CHS head coach Sean Fitzgerald. “We were playing to feet, talking … we had 40 minutes strong.”
Unfortunately for the Panthers, the second half was not quite as good, and a breakdown by the M-CHS defense allowed Alamosa to tie the score, 1-1.
Over the next 30-plus minutes, both teams battled as players on both sides had scoring chances. The net remained empty, however.
Then, in the 77th minute, with the game seemingly headed to overtime, Alamosa forward Jose Flores split two M-CHS defenders, collected a loose ball and fired a low shot past Panthers goalie Bridger Brenner.
“A couple of our defenders took stabs at the ball, and we got split,” said M-CHS defender Aaron Lewis. “They converted their shots.”
Immediately after the game, a clearly frustrated Fitzgerald lamented another late game loss, which he blamed on the Panthers lack of experience.
“I think it’s just a lack of knowing the game,” said Fitzgerald. “It’s just those little mistakes that are killing us.”
Currently ranked fifth in their league, the Panthers will look to improve their standing by winning a road matchup against Telluride on Oct. 7.
“I think the biggest things (we can work on) re no more mistakes out of our back and finishing,” said Fitzgerald. “We’ve had our changes, but we just haven’t put it away.”
