One had to tip a hat Tuesday night to Montezuma-Cortez striker Ben Byerly.
Able to beat Bayfield defenders 1-vs.-1 close to the goal and create no fewer than three quality scoring chances, the Panther senior at last saw his relentless efforts rewarded via an 83rd-minute, stoppage-time score –denying the hosting Wolverines a Homecoming Week shutout just as equally deserved.
Coming into the 3A Southwestern League match motivated by a 3-1 win at Alamosa three days earlier, BHS players knew they were kicking off a six-match home stand that could see the program into a rare postseason and reminded M-CHS of that early and often in a 7-1 triumph.
Unofficially putting 20 of 34 total shots on goal, Bayfield (5-4, 3-1 SWL) broke the ice just five minutes in when senior Caleb Donelan converted a Willy Roca assist into a 1-0 lead. Junior Shaw Foster then doubled it in the 14th, finishing off a confident give-and-go-and-give-and-go with Roca.
The Spaniard then cashed a Foster cross in the 30th minute and netted unassisted in the 36th. And with Bayfield in control, junior Gavin Larson increased the lead to five goals when he knocked in a rebounded shot initially taken from the opposite side of M-CHS senior Trinidad ‘L.T.’ McDonnell and deflected by the goalkeeper with an incredible forward dive.
“We just haven’t been a first-half team. All season, we haven’t led a game at halftime,” said BHS head coach Chris Zoltowski. “So, this whole game we talked about, like, we need to come out like it’s the second half; we need to come out (firing on) all cylinders right away. We did some drills we’ve been working on in practice … that would help build that energy. And we brought it in the first half. I think that was the difference-maker.”
Playing with just two reserves available, Montezuma-Cortez (2-9, 1-3) fought gamely after intermission. Led by Byerly, junior Evan LaMunyon and sophomore Raul Soto, the visitors’ unofficial six shots-on-goal matched the hosts’ count as M-CHS drastically reduced BHS’ number of shots taken. The Panthers also gained four of their six corner kicks during the second half –while allowing Bayfield just two total – in attempting to at least cut the deficit.
But Wolverine senior Gavin Davis proved up to the task, making several sliding stops and keeping the guests off Wolverine Country Stadium’s scoreboard.
“The defenders really have been dropping (back) more, and it’s really improved over the season,” Davis said. “And it was intense. I wanted the clean sheet though – I missed that last goal – but I think we played really well.”
Completing a hat trick about four minutes after LaMunyon was booked with a yellow card, Roca ran onto a Larson chip into space and shot past a drawn-out McDonnell in the 59th. Wolverine sophomore defender Shae Railsback would receive a caution in the 67th, but Foster set up Roca for a quick score in the 69th—making the card quickly forgettable as the super-sized home crowd roared Bayfield into the final 10 regulation minutes.
“Take it easy, settle the ball and just play it through,” explained Foster. “We’ve been working on it in practice and we just … wanted to work on possession more, and what worked in the last game – getting the ball over the top and through the center – to go for more goals.”
“We’re learning how to penetrate,” Zoltowski concurred. “That’s all we work on – just passing the ball, passing the ball, you know? Now we need to continue to work on some shooting drills!”
The agile McDonnell unofficially logged 13 saves in defeat, while Davis unofficially totaled eight.
“We can really dial in some of the … holes we saw in our game tonight, continue to work on those so when we do match up with Pagosa (Springs) it’s going to be a great game,” Zoltowski said, looking ahead to a crucial Oct. 7 rematch with the Pirates.
On a three-match winning streak, BHS will first welcome Telluride for an 11 a.m. kickoff Saturday. Up a spot to No. 8 in this week’s CHSAANow.com Class 2A rankings, the ever-potent Miners stood 4-4 overall (2-1 2A Intermountain) – including two overtime losses – prior to hosting No. 5 Ridgway (5-1, 2-1) Thursday afternoon.
“The crowds should be crazy – I’m really excited to finish out this season, really excited for the game on Saturday,” Davis said. “We’re finally on a winning streak … and I’m hoping that just attracts more people.”
“The chemistry’s just there for this team; all the boys get together, hang out, and get along really well,” Foster said. “Everything just builds off that chemistry; I’m ready … to show (Telluride) what’s up.”
“They seem to be more excited about Telluride than about Cortez!” Zoltowski noted. “I’m excited to see how they play.”
After THS’ visit, Bayfield will then host 4A Bloomfield, N.M., at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
If one had to choose a moment in the Montezuma-Cortez match which swung momentum Bayfield’s way, one would have to consider sophomore Brandon Wursten’s heads-up defensive play in the 21st minute.
With the Wolverines up 2-0, M-CHS’ Byerly managed to put a shot past Davis, who’d come out to challenge. The attempt lacked pace, however, and Wursten alertly pursued and cleared it out of danger just as the ball grazed the goal line.
“I love night games, and it was our first night game of the season,” he explained. “And man, I just ran to it as quick as I could, hoping to save it. Luckily I did!”
“We’ve had a lot of away games, not a lot of support there,” he added, “so I’m excited for the support at home.”