Left in disbelief after hitting Montezuma-Cortez goalkeeper Samson Lein’s near post twice with back-to-back 26th-minute shots, Bayfield senior Gavin Larson could find solace in the fact he wasn’t alone.
Larson had also cashed in a counter-strike goal, assisted by freshman Ayden Casillas, 15 minutes earlier. The play began when junior defender Lance Mitchell gained possession by wiping out Panthers forward Gabe Crowley on a potential breakaway at the opposite end. It held up as the winner, as the Wolverines wrapped up regular-season work blanking M-CHS 2-0.
“It means a lot, being a senior,” Larson said. “I just don’t know what to say right now – it’s an emotional night.”
“It’s been good,” said senior goalie Kaedon Rademacher, who booked his eighth shutout. “But it’s been weird – playing with people I feel so close with, and have only been with for just one season! I’m close with my defenders, my strikers, and I’ve learned a lot too from this team.”
Larson, Rademacher, Andy Monger, Shaw Foster and Zander Berriman were all recognized before the Wolverine Country Stadium crowd.
Up 1-0 at intermission Tuesday, BHS (9-3-2, 4-2-0 3A Southwestern) could have entered the second half ahead by much more – including freshman Lane Hunter’s almost-goal off the crossbar in the 22nd minute.
Casillas would thread a promising second-half shot between the soccer and football crossbars, but did sew up the victory with a 67th-minute goal assisted by Larson.
“This was actually my second game in the last two years playing striker,” said Larson, normally a central midfielder or a defender. “Him and me … we just connect, work good together.”
The Panthers slid to a season-ending 2-10 overall, but a third-place 2-4 in league. Pagosa Springs (10-4 overall) went a first-place 6-0, while Alamosa (0-14) ended up 0-6 after a 5-4, double-OT home loss on Oct. 13 to M-CHS,
Choosing to cancel their scheduled regular-season finale against 4A Durango’s junior varsity, Bayfield will now wait to learn their postseason fate after the weekend action has concluded.
As of 2 p.m. Thursday, the Wolverines stood 27th in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index for Class 3A.
“That should be enough. We will see,” said head coach Chris Zoltowski, knowing 32 teams qualify for the state tournament, with league champions earning automatic berths. “What I like the most, is (that) the team is so young and has the time to learn how to win. Playoffs won’t be new territory next year with 20 returning players.”
Durango, meanwhile, will look to go undefeated in the regular season when it hosts Montrose at 6 p.m. on Friday. Durango is 14-0 overall, beating Fruita Monument 10-0 in its last game for a fourth straight shutout. Nik Korte scored a hat trick to lead DHS.
