The Montezuma-Cortez High School boys soccer team continues to get strong play out of its underclassmen.
While the wins havent shown with homes losses to Fruita Monument, 8-0, and Grand Junction, 5-0, last Friday and Saturday at Johnson Field, the future of M-CHS soccer looks bright.
I think that weve certainly sparked a lot of interest in a lot of players, Panthers coach Dave Frame said. I look forward to spending time in the spring and summer, kind of getting together as a team to work on things we need to work on. Well be strong next season. I look forward to it, and I think everyone else does as well. Weve improved in all aspects of the game. Some kids came out with not really any soccer experience at all. As a coach, Im extremely pleased with the performance and growth of all of our players.
Freshman goalkeeper Bridger Brenner has filled in nicely for injured starter Auston Hart. Although, Fruita (7-7, 6-3 5A/4A Southwestern League) scored eight goals Friday, Brenner recorded 23 saves at goalie and nearly pitched a second half shutout.
Bridger at the net has been having an outstanding season so far, Frame said. He has impressed everyone on the entire team and the coaching staff. Hes really skilled as a goalkeeper. He really talks up the defense and lets them know what they need to be doing.
The Wildcats got six goals in the first half. Avery Kuper and Peter Martinez each netted two, and Matt Emerson and Noah Nelson had solo shots.
In the second half, Brenner almost had 40 minutes of shutout soccer for the Panthers (1-13, 0-9 5A/4A SL). Nelson and Martinez ended Fruitas second half drought with solo goals in the 66th and 67th minutes for the final outcome.
Brenner feels he is adjusting to the speedy pace of varsity soccer.
Its way different from JV. The intensity steps up, he said. Our whole team has stepped it up, also. To get out there and only hold them to two points in the second half, our defense really picked it up and held to their marks.
Defenders Moki Youngquist and Briston Walker kept many Fruita attackers at bay in the second. Seniors Tanner Elliot and Steven O-Connor-Seville also had quality minutes.
On Saturday against Grand Junction (2-8-3, 2-6-1 5A/4A SL), the Tigers did get their scoring opportunities on the way to their second win. But the Panthers defense again played strong compared to the 13-0 shellacking they took on Sept. 23, at Grand Junction High School.
M-CHS will conclude its season tonight against rival Durango at 4 p.m. at Johnson Field.
Were going to come out as strong as we can and leave it all on the field, Frame said.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.
