Trailing late Tuesday afternoon, the Bayfield Wolverines tried injecting their match against Pagosa Springs with a healthy dose of rivalry drama. Interim head coach Cody Kiss wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
But senior Sydney Rey’s two corner kicks, taken from either side of PSHS goalkeeper Keira Davis, produced no equalizer and neither did junior Arriyanna Cundiff’s well-timed 76th-minute run in pursuit of a through ball sent ahead by sophomore Jacqueline Boyce.
Ultimately, a first-half goal by PSHS senior Hailey Sams – now in her third year as a Pirate after moving to Archuleta County from 5A Legend in Parker – proved the difference inside Wolverine Country Stadium.
Pagosa Springs improved to 5-5-0 overall, 2-4-0 in 3A Intermountain League play. Bayfield, meanwhile, slipped to 1-11-0 overall and 0-6-0 in league.
“It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get a goal, but I think everybody tried their hardest,” said Boyce. “We just started a new formation today, so it was definitely a little different. There’s obviously going to be bumps in the road, but I think we played our hearts out and … we’ll get ’em next season.”
Following a 7-0 loss on Saturday at Alamosa (Kiss’ first match in charge after replacing Aaron Anderson), and then a 4-0 loss Monday in neutral Cortez to 2A Ridgway, the one-score outcome certainly elevated the Wolverines’ morale with the end of a trying campaign fast approaching.
“We’re almost done and you might as well put in what you can,” senior Briauna Lawton-Chavez said. “I’m not a quitter; I like to stay with things, and … it’s hard to step up, but definitely worth it.”
