Able to fight for and claim a failed Bayfield clearance attempt from out of their own 18-yard box, opposing freshman Jordi Mahler's subsequent shot produced a 75th-minute goal – giving her three against the Lady Wolverines in the teams' 2022 home-and-home, and Montezuma-Cortez a crucial 1-0 road win Friday afternoon.
Denied a sixth consecutive victory – as well as a desired season split with M-CHS – in a physical match counting more shots given than shots taken, BHS (5-3, 1-2 3A Southwestern) lost considerably more in that senior co-captain Mattie Moore was lost only six minutes in, to a right-knee injury stemming from a collision with Panthers senior Allie Kibel.
And following a yellow card given to senior Jamaica Garza, who'd argued a no-call after being pulled down on a rush toward goal during the 80th and last minute of regulation, sophomore Preslie Wagner – who'd already been unlucky with Bayfield's best two scoring chances, shooting high on a 47th-minute breakaway, then low and into Lady Panther keeper Aubrey Rutherford's gloves in the 48th – was shown a red card, reportedly for a misinterpreted comment made to an official, after play concluded.
The first half of play ended scoreless, though Montezuma-Cortez (3-4, 3-1 3A SWL) cranked up their intensity just a smidgen higher, with Kibel – who had been benched for a short while after a 14th-minute crash into BHS junior Abria Thayer – launching a couple quality shots and sophomore Anna Jensen zipping a stoppage-time try just past Lady Wolverine goalie Annie Fusco's left.
After Wagner's two chances at breaking the ice, M-CHS' best opportunity came in the 51st, but sophomore co-captain Sophia Shepard clanged the ball off Fusco's left post. Unofficially, the Lady Panthers took 13 shots with seven on frame and Fusco making five saves. The Lady Wolverines, meanwhile, put four of their six shots on target, but none fully behind Rutherford.
Up next, BHS – likely to be without Wagner and possibly minus Moore, who spent the majority of the match on the sideline icing her elevated knee – will host Alamosa at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Presently standing 4-4 overall (1-0 3A SWL), the Mean Moose will first host Pagosa Springs (3-3, 0-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday before venturing to Wolverine Country Stadium.
Eager to get senior Olivia Cosner back from concussion protocol, M-CHS will next see action April 23, at AHS, looking to avenge a 1-0 overtime home loss from two weeks earlier.
