An early goal had the Bayfield boys soccer team in good shape Tuesday night, but the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers roared back in a big way in the final seven minutes of the first half.
The Panthers (4-7, 2-1 3A Intermountain League) received three goals from junior Alden Adams and held off the attack of Bayfield’s Mattia DiBello to earn a 5-3 win Tuesday night in Bayfield.
DiBello got the Wolverines (1-8, 1-2 IML) on the board in the fifth minute on a breakaway goal. Adams evened the game in the 34th minute, and the Panthers took a 2-1 lead two minutes later when Rodrigo Marquez scored, as the Wolverines’ defense was unable to clear away the ball.
After DiBello had a shot go off the crossbar, the Panthers counterattacked with a goal from senior Michael Diaz in the 38th minute to take a 3-1 lead into halftime.
It took only two minutes into the second half for Adams to score his second goal, as he volleyed the ball to himself and blasted shot over the head of BHS senior goalkeeper Bailee Blakeslee.
BHS got back within 4-2 in the 53rd minute, as DiBello played a long pass 30 yards up ahead for Jason Schneider, who beat Cortez goalkeeper Stevie Fuentes in a one-on-one situation.
The Wolverines got within one goal in the 69th minute, as DiBello hauled in a pass from freshman Jareth Vega and scored his second of the night.
But Montezuma-Cortez got breathing room again in the 71st minute, as Adams scored one more time on a two versus five attack. With five men to beat, Adams launched a shot from 25 yards out and put it over Blakeslee’s head for the final goal of the match.
Blakelslee made a few big saves in the match to help keep the Wolverines close.
BHS will hit the road to play Pagosa Springs at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
In a tune-up tournament before going to the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A state tournament, the Durango Demons placed second in a tournament played at Farmington’s Piñon Hills Golf Course on Monday.
Durango’s scored of 337 was second to Piedra Vista’s 311.
Piedra Vista’s Trey Diehl won with a 1-under-par 71. Josh Gallegos of Belen, New Mexico, was second with a 3-over 75.
Freshmen Anthony Flint and Levi Tichi shot 82 to lead the Demons. The freshmen will join DHS junior Ethan Whidden at the state tournament. Whidden shot 87 on Monday.
Luke Tichi shot 86 for the Demons, and Luke Ford also shot 87. The Demons also brough Sten Joyner, who shot 86, Josh Meador, who shot 96, and Michael Marquez, who rounded out the team with a 97.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
