It was probably the last thing Head Soccer Coach Oscar Cosio wanted to see. His only backup goalkeeper, Hailey Benavidez, went down with an injury late in last Saturday's season-opener
He already had lost three of last year's goalies - Nicole Williams, Destinee Lucero (graduated), Amya Bison (concussion). But after new starter Krissy Velasquez's 79th-minute doorstep robbery of Telluride's Rachael Repol not long before the final whistle at IHS Field, the Lady Bobcats' second-year coach was still very much upbeat, despite his side falling 6-0.
"I think that's the happiest I've been after a loss," he quipped later in the afternoon.
Maybe because Ignacio had held the Lady Miners and their first-year boss Lanier Nelson to just six goals, rather than the nine or 10 THS usually manages. But maybe it was also because even without a few members of the girls' basketball team, needing to finish the state-mandated number of practices to become match-eligible, Cosio suited up 14 players. This proved that despite its existence teetering on the proverbial ropes every season, interest in the hard-luck program still hasn't been knocked out.
Velasquez totaled 11 stops. Up next for Ignacio (0-1, 0-1) will be a trip to Pagosa Springs on the 18th.
BAYFIELD BEGINS STRONG: A few of the Bayfield Lady Wolverines were in attendance, scouting both teams in advance after BHS' season-opening 3-2 win at Wolverine Country Stadium over Salida the afternoon before.
Bayfield had built a 2-0 lead at intermission on goals by Meaghan Mooney and Jaida Ross. Maddy Duran then made the lead 3-1 before speedy Salida countered and forced Jennifer Zelinski's team to play fully until the end.
Freshman Kailee Millard earned the win in net for BHS (1-0, 0-0 3A Southwestern.)
The girls' next match will be at Alamosa on the 18th, beginning SWL work.
