The Montezuma-Cortez soccer team opens the 2016 season on Saturday against Delta.
The Panthers will be without five graduates from last year’s squad, but they return seniors Manuel Martinez, Jesus Ruiz and Skyler Yarbrough.
The trio will serve as team captains and provide offensive firepower for the Panthers. Last season, Martinez scored 17 of the Panthers’ 25 goals, Ruiz chipped in two, and Yarbrough tallied three assists.
Other key returners are juniors Kolby Waltman and Parker Bell and sophomore Jackson Byerly. Head coach Sean Fitzgerald also has talented freshmen out for the team, saying that Davian Robinson may start at goalkeeper and Alden Adams should see time up front.
During the opening two weeks of practice, Fitzgerald put his team through track workouts, hill runs and sprints in order to get into game shape. And watching the team scrimmage during two-a-days, he said he felt like the team clicked and became a cohesive group.
“Robert [Laymon] and I were talking about how this team as a whole is the most talented team together,” he explained. “We don’t have the most talented players. But together, I think they are by far the best we’ve had in four years.”
The high praise is accompanied by high expectations, especially after last year’s 2-13 record.
The Panthers will continue play in the Southwest Soccer League against Alamosa, Bayfield, Center, Crested Butte, Pagosa Springs, Ridgway and Telluride – but Fitzgerald is expecting a better turnout this season.
“I think the biggest goal for the year is making state,” he said. “We haven’t done it for 16 years or something like that. I may be way off on that number, but it’s been bad. So that’s the biggest goal, but the little goals in-between are staying with every team.”
“I think we had two or three blowouts last year,” he continued, “which we shouldn’t in this league. Especially with the talent that we’ve had come through here. And with this team now, hopefully with them playing as a team, I don’t know, but I’m really excited about this year.”
The Panthers get into action on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Johnson Field.
