Missing their leading goal scorer from a season ago, the Bayfield Wolverines will rely heavily on other seniors to fill a void this season.
Effie Nistler wore the Wolverines’ girls soccer team’s Golden Boot in 2013, but a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered at the beginning of the basketball season will keep the sharpshooter sidelined for her senior season.
“We are hoping other girls can step up in her place. Senior leadership will be our biggest thing,” Bayfield head coach Jen Zelinski said after the Wolverines’ season-opening 3-2 victory against Salida on Friday at Wolverine Country Stadium. “I have five very dedicated and excited seniors ready to make the most of this season.”
Bayfield finished the 2013 campaign as Intermountain League champions with a 12-3-1 overall record and 10-1-1 record in the IML. But the Wolverines fell to Lutheran 3-2 in the first round of the state tournament, and Zelinski hopes this year’s team can get over that first-round hump.
“Our goal is to get past the first round. We only did it once, and that was two years ago,” Zelinski said. “It is hard being where we are and going into the state tournament, but we make the best of what we can.”
Zelinski said the Wolverines will play teams such as Salida because it will help the team be more prepared for the state tournament.
“Salida plays the better Front Range teams, and we are looking to play better and more experienced teams so that we can be ready for those kinds of teams,” Zelinski said.
The opening-day captains for Bayfield were seniors Sonja Fleming, Margaret Grayson, Grace Harvey and Jaida Ross, though Zelinski said she will continue to pick captains on a game-to-game basis.
Making a big debut Friday was freshman goalkeeper Kailee Millard, who hasn’t played soccer since the first grade, Zelinski said.
“She is a volleyball player with good size and hands. I asked her to come play goalie for me, and she is loving it,” Zelinski said. “She is dedicated and always looking for ways to get better. She is watching YouTube videos and is eager to learn.”
Zelinski credited Millard and her team’s defense for holding off Salida on Friday.
When the IML games begin, Zelinski expects tough competition once again this season.
“Pagosa Springs is going to have a very good team, and Alamosa will, too. It should be competitive,” Zelinski said. “It will be a toss-up between the three of us, but Telluride and Ridgway are always good. We are all pretty well-matched teams, and it is always a fight for who is No. 1.”
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Trio of goals leads Bayfield to victory
Bayfield High School girls soccer head coach Jen Zelinski was concerned about her team being able to score going into Friday’s season opener.
That proved no problem.
The BHS Wolverines (1-0) scored three times to earn a 3-2 victory against Salida (0-1) on Friday at Wolverine Country Stadium.
“The first game is always the hardest; you aren’t really sure what to expect or where player-fitness levels are. It is good to get that one our of the way, and we scored goals,” Zelinski said.
With last year’s leading scorer Effie Nistler sidelined for her senior season with a knee injury, Zelinski wasn’t sure if her team would be able to score in large quantities. The team answered that question quickly.
BHS junior Meghan Mooney scored early in the first half, and senior Jaida Ross was credited with a goal after Salida tapped the ball into its own goal following a Ross corner kick.
BHS sophomore Maddy Duran added the team’s third goal in the second half to give BHS a 3-1 lead.
BHS led 2-0 at halftime.
“Our ability to score goals was a concern going in,” Zelinski said. “To be able to score those was a great sign.”
Zelinski praised freshman goalkeeper Kailee Millard and her team’s defense for a strong finish when Salida poured its attack on the Bayfield goal.
“They really stepped up when we needed them to, and they kept Salida from scoring a third goal on us,” Zelinski said. “It was impressive for a freshman goalie, and I’m excited for her.”
Bayfield next will play March 18 at Alamosa in the team’s IML opener.
heraldsports@ durangoherald.com
