Needing help all around the soccer pitch after finishing 0-13 overall in 2021, then 0-12-2 in 2022 and posting an 0-16-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference (NCAA Division I) record during those seasons – Mississippi Valley State University, seeking its first win since Sept. 6, 2019, addressed the issue in receiving a National Letter-of-Intent from Liana Bryant of Grand Junction Central.
On Saturday, the Bayfield Wolverines learned firsthand why her talent was in demand.
Breaking through the home side’s defense almost at will, Grand Junction Central’s senior standout scored in just the second minute of play, then struck again in the third via an assist from senior Danessa Cordero. Junior Rhyan Mason tripled the Warriors’ lead in the fourth minute (giving Central three goals on three shots). After BHS at last settled in defensively, Bryant completed her hat trick by volleying sophomore Liz Stice’s 20th-minute corner kick off her knee – while in midair – and past goalkeeper Kaydence Hunter.
Mason would set up Cordero’s marker in the 28th and the guests went into halftime leading 7-0. The match would end much too early after Mason assisted junior Jazmyn Fenn’s 56th-minute finish, polishing off a 10-0 rout. Starting goalie Jasmine Hernandez and second-half switch River Westcott were each credited with two saves in the shutout. Hernandez even netted GJCHS’ eighth goal not even a minute after intermission.
All told, Bryant finished with three goals and one assist – on junior Lauryn Spencer’s 36th-minute score, Central’s seventh. Mason totaled a goal and three helpers for the Warriors (10-5 overall, 4-4 4A/5A Southwestern). Junior Isabella Drysdale and sophomore Marissa Martinez-Quezada also netted one goal apiece, and sophomore Kara Wickham was also credited with an assist.
Excluded from the 32-team Class 3A State Tournament, Bayfield finished the 2023 campaign a runner-up 4-2 in the 3A SWL and 7-7 overall. Central, meanwhile, received the No. 15 seed in 4A, and will next face No. 18 Edwards Battle Mountain (9-4-2 overall) in the round-of-32 on Wednesday at Colorado Mesa University.
Able to dribble around Crested Butte Community School defender Kaitlyn Rasmussen and line up a potential close-range shot between she and teammate Sawyer Ezzell, Ignacio senior Laci Brunson’s golden second-half opportunity couldn’t prevent the Bobcats from ending their 2023 season on the short side of a 9-0 home loss.
CBCS sophomore Paloma Lamar scored in the 45th and 47th minutes to increase the visitors’ lead to 8-0 before IHS steadied. Senior keeper Trinity Strohl stopped several would-be goals, including a point-blank, straight-on try by CBCS sophomore Teagan Turner, but the Titans (9-6, 5-1 2A Intermountain-South) seldom let IHS (0-15, 0-6) get within 15 yards of goalie Nicola Roberts.
Lamar finished with four goals while junior Leigh Harpel, senior Ellie O’Neal, freshman Molly Grace Miller and freshman Jacey DeRoche each scored one. Credited with four assists, senior Morgan Feltus netted the Titans’ last goal in the 70th minute. O’Neal, Miller, senior Ellie Duryea and freshman Nora Thomes each earned one assist.
Seeded No. 9 for the Class 2A State Tournament’s opening round-of-16, Crested Butte will next face No. 8 Windsor Charter Academy (10-3 overall) on Friday at SkyView Academy in Highlands Ranch. Awarded the No. 1 seed, SkyView (15-0) will face Denver-based No. 16 Bruce Randolph School (10-3) in the earlier Region I semifinal.
