BAYFIELD – Both times Bayfield High School and Pagosa Springs High School met on the girls soccer field, the game ended 2-1.
Both times, the home team secured a key league victory.
BHS rebounded from an early goal to beat the Pirates 2-1 on Tuesday in Bayfield to add some intrigue to the league championship race.
Pagosa Springs (5-2-1, 2-2-1 Class 3A Region 5) found an early goal from a corner when Hannah Marnocha poked the ball in off a scramble following a corner kick in the 17th minute.
“I definitely think we were surprised by it because we had so much intensity,” said BHS freshman Savannah Kaufmann, daugther of Chris and Melissa Kaufmann. “But we definitely knew we’d come back and play even harder than before.”
Kaufmann certainly did her part playing up top in the striker’s position. She tied the game at 1-1 in the 32nd minute after worming her way around the keeper and slotting her shot perfectly in the bottom right corner.
“Once I saw the goalie come out, I just charged the ball,” Kaufmann said.
Kaufmann has seen a lot of time in goal this season but has been playing out in the field more often as the season progresses.
“She’s definitely a huge addition for us on the field. She’s good in the goal as well, but I think she’s better on the field,” BHS head coach Jen Zelinski said. “Plus, we’ve got Kailee (Millard) back there, and she can get the job done.”
Kaufmann’s goal not only pulled the game level but affected the Pirates’ ability to transition from a defensive formation to an offensive one. They struggled attacking when the game was tied, often sending long passes that connected with the Wolverines rather than their own teammates.
“We couldn’t get out of our defensive shape,” Pagosa Springs head coach Lindsey Kurt-Mason said. “We’re trying to maintain possession, and they couldn’t maintain possession.
BHS outshot the Pirates 9-5 and put four on goal compared to three for Pagosa Springs. That pressure eventually led to a Pirates foul in the box, sending BHS junior Maddy Duran to the penalty spot. She followed her penalty-kick routine of looking where she wants to shoot then staring down the keeper before burying the goal in the top-right corner.
Duran’s goal proved to be the game-winner and gave the Wolverines a measure of revenge against Pagosa Springs for their earlier defeat.
“Revenge always feels a little better against Pagosa,” said Duran, daughter of Joanna and Tom Duran.
It also throws the 3A Region 5 title race into disarray. BHS (6-2, 6-2 Region 5) now trails Alamosa by just one game with just one league game remaining for the Mean Moose.
The Wolverines have wrapped up the 3A portion of their league schedule, and with CHSAA adding Class 2A for girls soccer this season, only the league champion is guaranteed a state tournament berth.
“We need Pagosa to go in and beat Alamosa,” Zelinski said. “It’s definitely still up in the air.”
BHS next will play at rival Telluride at 4 p.m. Friday.
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
