Steven OConner-Seville punched in a penalty kick goal in the 21st minute to bring the Panthers within one.
With visiting Bloomfield (N.M.) up just 2-1, Eric Miller gave the Bobcats some breathing room with a goal in the 23rd minute. One minute later, Miller executed a perfect corner kick off the left side, which Ben Baugh was the recipient, and he headed the ball past Panthers goalkeeper Auston Hart.
Montezuma-Cortez High School went into halftime down 4-1 and never recovered. The Panthers would fall 10-1 on Thursday at Johnson Field.
We just really couldnt get it together today, said OConner-Seville, a junior at Dolores. We had them in the first half. I guess they pretty much outrun us. We just couldnt keep up.
The Bobcats team speed really took off in the second half. After Miguel Quintanas penalty goal gave Bloomfield a 5-1 lead in the 50th, the Bobcats claimed two more goals in the next seven minutes. Quintana scored his second goal on a header off a corner kick to make it 7-1.
M-CHS coach Dave Frame put in Briston Walker at goalkeeper in relief of Hart after 60 minutes.
Weve been mixing up the keepers a good bit, Frame said. Were starting Auston. Were just trying to get Briston as much experience in the net as possible when the opportunities arise.
Walker allowed three goals in 20 minutes for the final outcome.
Despite the Panthers (1-8, 0-5 5A/4A Southwestern League) struggles this season, there is still plenty of optimism for the coaches.
I think weve learned to be pretty resilient, Frame said. The squad were dealing with I think were getting good at seeing through the score and just playing soccer, playing the best ball every minute of the game. As a coach, thats all I can ask for. They do not give up. They went the full 80 minutes, and Im proud of them for that.
For Bloomfield, it was all business.
We left our legs on the bus to begin with. As the game carried on, we just stepped it up, said Bobcats coach Jarly Lopez, a 1987 M-CHS graduate. We have a pretty young team, and they just needed that wake up call. Especially that penalty kick to wake us up.
The Panthers will face another New Mexico team today at Aztec at 11 a.m.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.
