Certainly not at full strength, personnel or talentwise, Ignacio girls soccer still got its 2025 season underway Thursday afternoon, hosting Pagosa Springs. With PSHS head coach Trevor Gian and new IHS head coach Gretchen Gruber agreeing to play the match 9-v-9, nine ended up being the deciding number on the scoreboard.
Unfortunately for the Bobcats, the visitors reached it first via four goals before halftime and five after. But even in a seven-goal defeat, IHS (0-1 overall) gave Gruber, new assistant coach Anita Mayes and even adviser/former HC Alisha Gullion something to build upon before time expired.
Sophomore Maliyah Martinez converted a second-half penalty kick, denying the Pirates (1-0) a shutout, and sophomore Bailey Briggs also scored against senior goalie Keira Davis.
With junior Bella Lorenzini unavailable, senior Caydence Vezeau took the loss in net for Ignacio but made several close-range saves and had no fewer than eight before intermission. PSHS senior Hailey Sams broke the ice just four minutes in, and junior Adison Johnson made the score 2-0 in the ninth off an assist from junior Terriana Cage.
Sams struck again in the 21st minute and Johnson did likewise in the 25th after intercepting an Ignacio clearing pass. Martinez threatened to get the Bobcats on the board in the 31st, but her unsupported rush on Davis was stopped short and Cage eventually closed out the half with a 39th-minute shot off Vezeau’s near post.
But it didn’t take Pagosa Springs long to get restarted offensively after the break; Johnson took a pass from junior Xyra Belarmino and while increasing the guests’ advantage to 5-0, completed her hat trick in the 42nd minute.
Weather permitting, the Pirates were supposed to visit Buena Vista (1-0-1 overall) on Saturday, while the Bobcats were to next begin league play on the 25th against Del Norte.
BAYFIELD SNOWED OUT: Scheduled to get 2025 underway Saturday at home versus 2A Ridgway, 3A Bayfield’s girls were prevented from doing so due to the previous day’s snowfall. A rescheduled date has yet to be announced.
