Slow in developing, Victory No. 1 of 2017 still came in Match No. 1 of 2017 for Bayfield Soccer.
"I don't know if it was the bus ride or just the fact that, like, it was the first game," said senior and team captain Tilden Berriman. "I think we all came out a little...rough the first half-and the team kind of agreed."
But in the end, a Berriman hat trick and a single goal by senior newcomer Armando Lerma, an Ignacio High student, was plenty to put down struggling Kirtland (N.M.) Central upon the Broncos' own ground last Saturday afternoon.
All goals came after intermission, with Berriman tying the match on a penalty kick. He then finished a crossing pass from Marcus Isiordia for his second goal and a Lerma assist for his third.
Lerma's score also came via penalty lick, after Berriman was dragged down by the Broncos' goalkeeper.
Berriman, however, elected to award the scoring chance to his teammate due to his strong play.
"That's leadership," head coach Chris Zoltowski quipped in a text message.
"The beginning of the second half, definitely changed the whole momentum. We just started scoring," said Berriman. He scored three goals in the Wolverines' preseason scrimmage win over the 4A Durango JV, as well as two in last year's 7-1 rout of Kirtland.
Goalies Chad Winkler, beaten from the spot in the first half, and Dillon Vroman - a second-half switch after Winkler was caught up in a collision - shared the victory in the net for Bayfield.
Still 0-0 in NMAA District 1-5A action, Kirtland Central dropped to 1-3 overall while BHS improved to 1-0 (0-0 CHSAA 3A Intermountain) prior to this weekend's league-starting tests.
Ridgway comes to Wolverine Country Stadium Friday for a 4 p.m. kickoff, with Telluride in town for a 10 a.m. start on Saturday.
"Ridgway and Telluride are both really good teams," Berriman stated. "I think we really need to stop not getting our heads into the game - starting to play at the beginning, not the second half - and just keep pushing, keep moving, you know? It's a new season, new opportunities!"
