The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate soccer team suffered its second loss of the season this week, falling to the Bayfield Wolverines by a score of 2-0 on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Golden Peaks Stadium.
The Pirates now boast a 4-2-3 overall record, including a league mark of 1-1-1, which puts the team in second place in the 3A Intermountain League.
Coach Trevor Gian explained that it was a pretty evenly fought match, explaining the main difference was the Wolverines were able to capitalize on their opportunities.
“They put their opportunities away, basically is what it came down to,” Gian said.
He mentioned the Pirates had to make some personnel adjustments with a couple of starters not being available for the match.
Gian explained that Milo Deitemeyer is out with an injury from the Pirates’ match against Taos, N.M., on Sept. 24.
Gian also noted that Jacob Castaneda tweaked a muscle the day before the match against Bayfield.
“It was working pretty well for us,” Gian said in regard to shifting players into new roles.
The Wolverines scored their first goal about halfway through the first half by finding space behind the Pirates’ defense to cross the ball into the middle, Gian explained.
The Pirates were unable to get pressure on Bayfield’s attackers, allowing an uncontested shot from about 20 yards out.
The Pirates conceded again about five minutes after the first goal, Gian indicated.
He explained that the Pirates were having to react to the play and got stretched out defensively, “which we didn’t want to do.”
He noted the second goal by Bayfield was similar to the first and had a nice, clean finish.
“We just kind of got reactionary again,” Gian said.
Despite giving up two goals, the Pirates were able to control possession of the ball for the majority of the game, Gian explained.
He spoke about how the team came up with a plan at halftime to push forward more in the second half and keep the pressure offensively.
“We wanted to win,” Gian said, noting that Bayfield is a league opponent.
Gian explained that the Pirates created about 15 quality scoring chances throughout the game, but were unable to find the back of the net.
“We had opportunities left and right, and they just didn’t fall,” he said.
He mentioned Bayfield was able to create about five or six quality scoring chances throughout the game, and were able to convert on two of them.
Gian commented on the Pirates’ resiliency and that he was pleased with the way the team responded to falling behind in the match.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the players,” he said, explaining that he told the team at halftime it did not matter if they won or lost, but that he wanted the team to “go out there and do it our way.”
He added, “Couldn’t be more proud of how they responded to the situation.”
Gian also mentioned “the kids played their hearts out” and that on “a different day, that game’s ours.”
Gian praised the Pirates for sticking to their game plan and not getting phased by outside factors, explaining that during the past couple of home games the Pirates have gotten a little rattled.
“It was fun to be a part of, even though it was a loss, because of the way we responded and the resilience shown,” he said.
Additional stats for the match were not available by press time Wednesday.
The Pirates will be on the road tomorrow, Oct. 4, taking on the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers at 5:30 p.m. in Cortez.
This is the second matchup between the two teams this season, with the Pirates winning the first match 3-2.
Gian suggested he wants to see the Pirates convert opportunities early on in the game and try to force their opponents onto their heels, instead of trying to come from behind and chase the game.
“I think we’ll be prepared to go in there and just try to have a showing,” he said, mentioning that a good offensive game could help the Pirates’ confidence going forward.
clayton@pagosasun.com
