ALAMOSA – Well aware of her school’s winless struggle in boys’ soccer this past fall, Abby Wubben knew the Alamosa girls could ill afford any embarrassment beginning their 2023 campaign Tuesday at home.
Rooted on against upstart Ignacio by an impressive number of victory-starved supporters, the senior scored three goals and assisted on a fourth as the Mean Moose claimed the nonleague match by a 5-1 margin.
“The battle plan was just to work as a team, get all of our nerves out – it’s the first game of the season – and try to support our teammates,” said Wubben, whose freshman sister Jayden netted the ice-breaking goal by knocking in senior Annahi Molina’s third-minute shot escaping the grip of IHS goalkeeper Trinity Strohl. “It’s just amazing; great weather, great day, great teamwork.”
Credited with an assist on the play, Molina nearly made the score 2-0 in the sixth minute but redirected a Jayden Wubben crossing pass over siege-ready senior Strohl’s crossbar. In the form of Abby Wubben’s first marker, assisted by Jayden Wubben, AHS’ second strike came in the 18th and would hold up as the match-winner. Bobcat senior Harmony Reynolds cashed Ollyvia Howe’s 26th-minute cross in from Alamosa goalie Emily Tibbitts’ right for Ignacio’s lone goal.
“I was so excited for that,” said Howe, a first-year sophomore. “It was a learning game for everyone. And especially for me; I’ve never played soccer before, so it was fun.”
“To get experience was our main goal when we came here,” said IHS head coach Alisha Gullion. “And I went from ‘Let’s get some experience’ to ‘Let’s win!’ as soon as we hit that goal in. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, there it is!’ They’ve had so much growth.”
Eager to build upon a high-scoring 2022, which ended with Ignacio standing a competitive 2-13 overall – with four losses by two or fewer goals – and 2-6 in 2A Southwestern League play, the ’Cats (0-1) managed to stay within a goal going into halftime, as Strohl smothered no fewer than six shots sent her way. Anchored by seniors Autumn Sage and Alexis Ortiz, the back line prevented several more Moose chances from materializing.
“I was trying not to think so hard about it,” Sage said. “I know I have been playing for a long time, so I was like ‘Just calm down, be ready!’ Because I know if a ball gets past me, I know either Alexis or Trinity has it; they’re able to stop a goal.”
“My defense, I brag on them all the time; they are just such a solid team,” Gullion said. “At first they were a little hesitant, that first half … and then they started to find their stride. Played one heck of a game.”
Converting an Abby Wubben pass into her first goal of the season, Molina put AHS (1-0) up 3-1 in the 42nd minute. Stealing possession near IHS’ end line in the 54th from an unlucky Ortiz, the elder Wubben increased the lead to three goals as she slid a low shot past a surprised, drawn-out Strohl. And after Reynolds narrowly missed Tibbitts’ framework with a breakaway opportunity in the 66th, Wubben completed her hat trick in the 70th by intercepting an Ignacio clearance and capitalizing.
Despite being decidedly out pressured, with Alamosa owning a 6-2 edge in corner kicks and Strohl having to make 10 true saves compared to sophomore Tibbitts’ three, the ’Cats seemed content with an upbeat effort coming just days after finally practicing upon IHS Field.
“For the first (practice) days we had to stomp on the snow … to clear it off real quick, but the last couple days we got some playing time on the field,” Howe said. “So yeah, I’m pumped up about it.”
“Personally I have a lot of expectations, especially being a senior … showing players who haven’t been playing for a long time – or this is their first time playing – how the game works, and just encouraging them,” Sage said. “I think we can achieve a lot, especially with our seniors and our juniors.”
“I’m excited at the start of every season, but … this game I’m so proud of them,” Gullion said. “Every single game they surprise me – though now I don’t know why that surprises me!”
IHS was also scheduled to play at 3A Montezuma-Cortez (0-1) on Thursday, weather permitting, but results were unavailable at press time.
Looking to follow up last year’s 9-6 overall (3-3 3A SWL) mark with Scott Key taking over as head coach in ’23 for Chris Zoltowski, Bayfield’s opener versus nonleague 2A Lake County, originally scheduled for Thursday, will now be played at 3 p.m. on April 21. The Wolverines’ slated home match on March 25 against 2A Ridgway has also been relisted for 4 p.m. on May 5.
As things presently stand, BHS won’t see action until March 31 when the girls travel to Alamosa.
