The Montezuma-Cortez Lady Panthers (2-0) got good looks early against the Telluride Miners (4-1) on Monday evening at Johnson Field.
Junior Britaney Hampton had an attempt three minutes in that was scooped up by the Telluride keeper, and a minute later, Gabby Wolf dribbled through traffic for a shot that was also saved.
The next try was a deep attempt from Rylee Lindsley that sailed high, but the early opportunities looked promising for the Lady Panthers.
Soon after, the floodgates opened.
Hampton put a beautiful cross into the box that Wolf headed in for the first goal 21 minutes in, and 12 minutes later, Wolf took the ball at midfield and outran the Telluride defense and past the keeper for an easy shot to go up 2-0.
Then, just before half, a shot attempt by Lindsley bounced off the keeper and created a scramble in the box. M-CHS senior Weslie Kirks kept it alive until Josie Sitton could finish it off to send the Lady Panthers to the half up 3-0.
Even with the advantage, head coach Nate Ross told his team at halftime not to let up and to defend their home field.
“I was disappointed with our intensity to get the ball back,” he said. “That sense of urgency to quickly collapse on the other team when they get the ball and defend our home field.”
The Lady Panthers followed orders, and as they had in the first, they controlled the tempo and the ball for the majority of the half.
They also scored three more goals.
Lindsley scored on her second attempt after a cross by Kirks, Wolf knocked in a ball that sleepily rolled by the Telluride keeper for her third goal and then after a steal at midfield and pass ahead by Skylar King, Wolf weaved through the Miners defense and capped off the Panthers’ scoring with her fourth goal of the game.
“Gabby is great at playing one-on-one offense,” Ross explained. “She can get around girls at will if she wants. Gabby is going to have her one-on-one moments, but she’s very good at finding other players in good positions to score as well.”
The Panthers’ offense flourished – scoring six goals in the contest – but it was often the defense that was able to push the ball forward and create opportunities.
The Panthers have not allowed a goal in two games this season, and senior goalkeeper Stevee Brenner had multiple saves again on Monday.
But more often than not, the Lady Panthers would stop any Telluride attack before the Miners even had a chance to get up a shot attempt.
Playing in a different formation with four defenders, King, Johana Ruiz, Cassidy Leonard and Maddy Mahaffey anchored the Panthers’ defense and provided Brenner with a blanket of security in the backfield.
“They played great back there,” Ross said after the win. “Playing that four-player defense, you have to play a little bit more of a zone, so you have to be covering for each other if one girl gets beat. And I thought they did amazing today, with that new, first time formation.”