In the first half, the Lady Panthers had the howling, dusty 40-mph wind and their backs Tuesday evening.
Gabby Wolf booted a shot that sailed just wide left of the goal on the east side of Johnson Field in girls soccer action against rival Durango.
Allison Porter later kicked a shot from 50-feet that the wind carried a little too far to the left.
Each team was scoreless at halftime.
In the second half, Durango had the wind at its back and took advantage.
Lauren Morsi nailed a shot from 15-feet inside midfield that carried with the wind. The ball carried just over the outstretched arms of Montzuma-Cortez High School goalkeeper Danielle Waltman.
Bella Bernazzani later added a goal for the visitors after Waltman made a diving deflection. Bernazzani was there for the put back.
The Lady Panthers had opportunities to score, but couldn’t find the back of the net in a 2-0 loss.
“Durango’s a solid team. They have a lot of talent,” Lady Panthers coach Nate Ross said. “The goals that they got, they didn’t earn those goals on the field in regular play. The free kicks, they took advantage of it.”
M-CHS (3-7-2, 0-6-2 4A Southwestern League) continues to be snake bitten by bad luck. Coach Ross just wants his girls to continue to keep playing at a high level.
“Our girls matched up to their girls on the field in regular play. It was a 0-0 game in my mind,” Ross said. “That’s how we have to look at it for the rest of our season — is how we play. Not whether or not we win or lose at this point. We’re growing as a team still. We’re getting better and better. We’re just having a hard time finding the net.”
Dolores freshman Nicole Kibel had two shots at the goal in the second half. One was saved by Durango’s goalie and one shot missed just right. The Demons are now 8-3-1, 5-2-1 (SWL) overall.
“We definitely played one of our better games today, even with the weather,” M-CHS sophomore Naomi Pinnecoose said. “Those two (Durango) goals were very lucky.”
The Lady Panthers must regroup for a tough Palisade (7-2) team coming to Johnson Field on Saturday morning at 11.
“This will just make us work harder and go for that win,” Pinnecoose said. “I think staying strong, and just not giving up and going for that goal — will be good.”
Saturday’s match is the home finale for the Lady Panthers this season and it will be senior day.
bobbya@cortezjournal.com.
