Showing fine sportsmanship Friday afternoon through a willingness to play visiting roster-ravaged Ignacio 10-v-10, Montezuma-Cortez nevertheless knew charity couldn’t be extended to IHS’ No. 10.
Not after what she’d accomplished less than 24 hours earlier.
Writing her name into Lady Bobcat Soccer’s record book, senior Darlyn Mendoza-Lechuga – already a capable scoring threat, as evidenced by her 11 goals as a sophomore in 2022 – netted not just one, two or even three goals at Del Norte; she tallied all eight in a five-goal road win, Ignacio’s first in the 2024 campaign.
“She had two penalty kicks, three assisted – by Maliyah (Martinez), Marlene Martinez-Perez and Lainee (Bradley) – goals and three unassisted,” IHS head coach Tori Burch said. “But it wasn’t easy; Del Norte put up a good fight.”
Outscored by just a 7-0 count during its own 0-3 start to the season, M-CHS had Mendoza-Lechuga watched well right from the opening kickoff as both teams began battling often-fierce winds as well as each other.
Montezuma-Cortez dominated against a tired Ignacio squad and cruised to a 9-0 victory. The Lady Panthers improved to 1-3 with the win while Ignacio fell to 1-4 with the loss.
Lady Panther senior Anna Jensen nearly broke the ice three minutes in, but saw her breakaway chance against IHS goalkeeper Bella Lorenzini blow away from the framework.
Late in the fourth minute, M-CHS junior defender Halee Kibel had a Lorenzini punt bounce over her head and find Mendoza-Lechuga running at full speed. Almost able to taste her ninth goal, Mendoza-Lechuga ripped a quality shot on net, but Lady Panther junior Aubrey Rutherford made an outstanding diving save on what ended up being the visitors’ best opportunity.
Still trying to beat the breezes – fortunately not in the 50-100 mph range as predicted to blast Colorado’s northern and central regions over the weekend – Montezuma-Cortez senior Janae Boyd sent a lower-elevated try Lorenzini’s way in the 11th minute but it was rerouted.
Finally, in the 21st minute, she broke in alone on Lorenzini and after getting as close as possible to IHS’ keeper, zipped a low shot into the net for the all-important 1-0 lead.
Played into striking range by Jensen in the 24th, Boyd was fouled inside Ignacio’s 18-yard box – resulting in a penalty kick being awarded and converted by Jensen into a 2-0 advantage.
Junior Emily Howell then made it a three-goal match in the 29th with a shot too hot for Lorenzini to clutch, and Jensen scored in the 36th from Lorenzini’s right – giving the Lady Panthers a 4-0 lead which endured into halftime.
“Really keeping the ball settled and … controlling the middle of the field was our ultimate goal,” said Montezuma-Cortez head coach Melody Harris. “We knew that we wanted to play what we’ve been practicing, and it ended up working out well.”
Burch said the team did enough last game against Del Norte and in the first half against MC-HS, but the girls ran out of gas in the second. The Ignacio players had played 160 minutes of soccer in two days with no subs.
Jensen, even more of an important weapon now with junior standout Jordi Mahler benched for the season by an injured left ACL, restarted the scoring after intermission with a 42nd-minute conversion of a Boyd assist. Three minutes later, Boyd increased the margin to six goals by knocking in a Jensen shot deflected by Lorenzini.
Junior Luna Moore joined the proverbial party with a breakaway goal in the 51st and senior Grace Darrin profited in the 57th from a Jensen assist. Jensen, fittingly, netted M-CHS’ ninth goal in the 71st minute, low and to Lorenzini’s back post.
“It was a great learning experience for our more ‘green’ players,” Harris said, “I hope it helps the girls really develop even more passion for the game. I think they really had fun today … and we’re just going to put our best foot forward.”
The Lady Panthers will next see action Friday, April 12, against Alamosa, then continue SWL work the next day at Pagosa Springs. Ignacio meanwhile, will host PSHS on the 16th and M-CHS on the 18th.
