Soccer season is over for the girls at Montezuma-Cortez High School. But they showed much improvement, according to head coach Barb Cullington.

"I was really happy with our season because of what we accomplished on the field. I wish we could have won more games (2-11-1 overall). But at least we were playing much closer games against teams that used to blow us out. At the end of the season the girls were playing well," she remarked.

The girls still need to work on their ball skills, she said.

"Probably our skills would be ranked towards the bottom of the league, but we are improving all the time. I did notice we were passing better, attacking more, and moving the ball around with purpose," Cullington reported.

The Panthers played a close game against Palisade High School to close Southwestern League play and the regular season on Saturday, April 27, at Canyon View Park. Cortez, which had been blown out by Palisade 7-0 earlier in the season, lost 2-1.

Palisade, which raised its record to 2-11-1 overall, took command on the opening kickoff when Lyndsi Brumback scored in the second minute off an assist by Katherine Esposito.

Although Palisade was up 1-0, a Bulldog hand ball inside its own penalty area late in the first half could have shifted the momentum back to Cortez.

Palisade goalie Kacey Keenan was up to the challenge, though. She maintained the Bulldogs’ lead when she stopped Felice Lucero’s penalty kick.

After intermission, freshman Stephanie Reiners added an insurance goal for a 2-0 lead that held until the last five minutes when Linda Smart cut the Bulldogs’ lead in half.

"Usually after playing a game Friday afternoon there is nothing left for Saturday morning. That was the best Saturday game we played all season. It was nice that we played so well the last game of the season," Cullington added.

Cortez goalies Kelli Unrein and Nikkie Fuchs split time, each allowing a goal. However, they both made some excellent stops. They stopped many shots. She said that Suzy Smart and Jasmine Showers both played well on defense.

Offensively, Cullington cited the play of strikers Jennifer Siracusen and Krissy Thomas. Cortez made 12 shots on goal during the contest.

Things didn’t go so well for the Panthers the night before against Grand Junction High as they dropped a 5-0 decision.

"I think a lot had to do with the weather and field conditions," Cullington noted. "The wind was gusty and at their backs the first half. They made three, wind-aided goals. But when we changed fields for the second half, the wind died down. The field at Canyon View is not good. There is a large hill in the middle of the field. The girls had to get used to running up and down the hill. But it seemed like we were always on defense that game."

Unrein was the goalie and did a good job. None of the goals she allowed were junk. Cullington said she may have been out of place on one of them.

The Panthers had trouble stopping the crossing passes against the Tigers. They did a better job stopping it against Palisade.