Panther soccer team loaded with solid veteran players

Panther soccer team loaded with solid veteran players

August 30, 2001

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Another trip to the Class 4A State Boys Soccer Playoffs could be in offing for Montezuma-Cortez High School this fall. The Panthers, under first-year coach Todd Starr, advanced to the playoffs before falling in the first round to Berthoud at home.

"I every intension on having us back in the playoffs again," Starr said. "Everybody is back except for Joe Siracusen (graduated last May). We have veteran team back and we think we’ll have a good season."

Starr has several standouts in which he’s got to depend on if the Panthers, indeed, are going to be successful.

"I’m looking for big, big things from senior Jeff Yarbrough and senior goalie Garrett Andrews. Both of them have been working hard during the off-season. Junior Tyler Gilstrap has shown great stuff during two-a-days. Freshman Patrick Mangan has been impressive and has probably earned a starting spot on varsity. Speedy James Durnin, a track standout last spring, is playing the sport for the first time at the high school level although he did play youth ball but he’s making an immediate impact. Jon Cullington went to Europe and played over there this summer and he’s coming on well. Grayson Andrews has been very impressive so we look for good things out of him," Starr reported.

Andrews and Dusty Bell will spend time in the goalie crease. Mangan will be the center stopper. Shawn Taylor will be one outside back along with Grayson Andews, who played some striker last year. John Phelps could be pushing for that spot. Cullington, Gilstrap and Yarbrough will be in the middle. Durnin and Jared Sanders may be on an outside there. Juan Soto and Omar Pena could be the strikers. Starr said he doesn’t think he’s going to use a sweeper at this point.

"Juan has been real impressive during two-a-days (morning workout mainly conditioning with evening workout for tactics, skills, etc.). Pena played well at times last year and is looking good," he added.

Providing depth will be hard-runner Matt Percy, and big-hearted Brian Cone may be the first players off the bench. Bowen Jorgensen will get more playing time this year.

Look for the Panthers to be in a 4-4-2 or a 3-5 offensive alignment.

"Montrose is still our red-letter games. Montrose lost its big senior and I’m not real sure who they have coming back. We have got to win those games in order to get into the playoffs. It still really hard to be a (Class) 4A school and compete in a 5A league. Last year our league had five of the top seven scorers in the state. This year three of those are back, two at Durango and one at Grand Junction. The league looks to be very tough once again," he added.

The Panthers are scheduled to open the season at Pagosa Springs at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1. However, that may be changed at the last minute and become a junior varsity game only. Apparently, Kirtland-Central was contracted for a game this fall. That may be squeezed in late October. The Panthers host Farmington High at 5 p.m. Sept. 4 at Norman Johnson Memorial Field to open the campaign. They travel to Aztec on Sept. 7. They don’t play again until they host Class 5A Central of Grand Junction on Sept. 14 and 5A Fruita-Monument on Sept. 15.

A trip to 5A Grand Junction is slated for Sept. 21 and then a date at Montrose on Sept. 22. Montrose is a big game for the Panthers because it will count for 4A play. Durango comes here on Sept. 27 and then they take a break a play a return date to Farmington on Sept. 29.

MCHS takes its team to Durango on Oct. 2 and then visit Fruita on Oct. 5 and Central Oct. 6. The Panthers host Montrose in another key match on Oct. 12 and then host Grand Junction High on Oct. 13. They end the regular season by traveling to Farmington to play Piedra Vista on Oct. 18. The first round of the playoffs begin Oct. 27.