LAFAYETTE – The Bayfield boys soccer team was no match for Peak To Peak’s offense on Wednesday night.
Pumas senior Jorden Gyaltsen scored six goals, as Peak to Peak eliminated Bayfield in the 3A state playoff opener, 11-1.
Peak to Peak improved to 12-1-3 and will face No. 19-seed Basalt (8-5-3) in the next round. Basalt upset on No. 14 Denver Science & Technology 5-3 on Wednesday night.
Bayfield’s season ended at 9-5-1.
“I mean, we struggled right at the beginning … just getting our composure those first few minutes,” Bayfield coach Chris Zoltowski said, indirectly recalling Puma senior Ethan Wang’s third-minute icebreaker.
Wang scored after Bayfield goalkeeper Orion Botsford made a strong save on Puma’s senior Jorden Gyaltsen’s initial shot, with the deflection going straight to an unmarked Wang.
Wang later added a second goal, and the goals just kept coming.
A goal by Bayfield senior Shae Railsback ensured that the much-traveled Wolverines wouldn’t leave Lafayette with nothing to show for their efforts Wednesday night.
Catching Peak to Peak goalkeeper Ryan Cahoon off-guard, Railsback spoiled the powerful Pumas’ once-likely shutout in the 68th minute. Bayfield, the No. 30 seed, made it a 9-1 contest at that point, but it was already too late.
Third-seeded Peak to Peak, which reached last year’s state finals, made sure Bayfield’s celebration was short-lived. Pumas reserve junior Daniel Carrier converted an assist from classmate Fritz Weber in the 70th minute, and sophomore reserve Shrikanish Thenral Mani tacked on the Pumas’ 11th and final goal of the night on a header in the 79th minute.
“For me it doesn’t matter who’s playing on the field. Everybody trains hard, trains with intensity, so we all have an understanding of what we want to achieve when they get on it,” said Peak to Peak coach James Wagenschutz. “And it’s fantastic for them to come on and be able to execute, so I’m really proud and happy for those guys. It was a resounding win.”
Zoltowski said he’s excited for Bayfield’s future.
“Last year it was about making the playoffs, this year winning the league and making the playoffs, and next year …. All of our sophomores will be juniors. When we make the playoffs we’re playing against seniors, and these guys are just going to get older and stronger and faster,” he said.
