A game-equalizing goal with four minutes to play energized the Bayfield Wolverines. But the blazing speed of Montezuma-Cortez striker Manuel Martinez proved to be too much for the Bayfield boys soccer team to contain.

Martinez scored three goals and assisted on two others in a 5-3 win for the Panthers on Tuesday at home against Bayfield.

“His speed made it difficult for us to slow him down,” BHS head coach Dave Foster said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “He is a physical player, and they kept sending the ball over the top, and he ran under it. It was a difficult matchup for our outside defenders.”

Martinez scored all three of his goals in the first half to give Montezuma-Cortez (2-8, 2-6 3A Region 5) a 3-2 advantage at the break.

Bayfield (0-7, 0-7 Class 3A Region 5) scored the game’s first goal, as sophomore forward Colton Fine scored directly off a throw-in from junior captain Finlay Marshall, who had assists on all three of the Wolverines’ goals.

After going down 2-1, Bayfield freshman Berman Abdallah-Boehm tied the match at 2 on a second-effort goal set up my Marshall in the 31st minute.

BHS sophomore Tilden Berriman hit a beautiful equalizing goal to make it 3-3 late in the second half. Berriman hit a rocket off his left foot into the top left corner of the goal.

“Top shelf,” Foster said of Berriman’s goal.

But Martinez exposed the Bayfield defense and set up teammates Jesus Ruiz and Andrew Laymon for goals in the 77th and 78th minutes to give the Panthers the win.

“We still have an issue keeping shape in the back when we have a lead or are tied,” Foster said. “But it’s a great feeling for the boys to score some goals and work well together as a team. We know we can compete.”

BHS will look for its first win of the season at 4 p.m. Friday at Alamosa (4-4, 3-3 3A Region 5).

jlivingston@durangoherald.com