Panther boys soccer squad loses in kickball game

Panther boys soccer squad loses in kickball game

Sept. 27 2001

By Jim Thomas
Journal Sports Editor

Kirtland-Central and Montezuma-Cortez high schools played kickball and the Broncos won 3-1. That’s just about the way the game went Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 25, at Norman Johnson Memorial Field.

"They booted the ball down field and scored a couple quick goals," MCHS head coach Todd Starr said immediately following the game. "We did not even show up the first half. They were over at the Post Office mailing it in. We controlled the ball the first half except that Kirtland was playing this kick and run ball. They got those goals and that gave them their confidence and that changed the complexion of the game."

The Panthers seemed like they were playing in slow motion for much of the first half. They did keep the ball on the attacking half of the field, however, for much of the half. They took shot after shot on goal but never could get one in during the first eight minutes of play. The Panthers would take shots but there would be no support. But suddenly, the Panthers forgot about attacking and settled on playing defense only. The Broncos took several shots on goal with their two guys up front. Finally, on a breakaway play, thanks to a long boot down field, Dax Crum dribbled, faked left, and then went right with his shot into a mostly open net with 24 minutes, 51 seconds gone in the first half.

Kirtland continued to attack with short shots on goal, just barely missing. But then on another breakaway, Crum scored again on a shot from up the middle with 31:31 gone.

Cortez took control of the ball again. Omar Pena and Jeff Yarbrough took shots, but missed.

With only about a minute gone in the second half, John Phelps booted the ball from 30 feet out right into the back of the net.

"We got inspired and played with a little more intensity after that goal. I don’t know what it is but all season after we get down by one or two goals and then we show up. That goal helped our confidence," Starr said.

Phelps took several more shots during the day. He made many nice passes when he wasn’t shooting from 20 or more yards out. David Schmidlap and Pat Managan tried shots but both just missed their marks in the second half. After a defensive lapse, Kirtland’s Chad Kimball scored with 16:15 which made it 3-1. The Panthers then dominated in the field, with the exception right at the end of the game.

"We had possession 80 percent to their 20 percent, but we never could get scoring opportunities. We just played the ball back and forth during the second half," he added.

The Panthers suffered two heartbreaking losses last weekend, losing 5-1 on Friday afternoon, Sept. 21, with a score not really indicative of play by Cortez, and a 4-3 controversial loss to Montrose on Saturday morning, Sept. 22.

The game against Central of Grand Junction was, "not even close to the kind of game we played," Starr said. "They scored twice within the first 60 seconds of play and then we dominated the middle 40 minutes of play. I was proud of the way the kids played because of their hustle."

It was hustle play by Omar Pena and subsequent penalty kick by Jon Cullington which put the Panthers on the board. MCHS trailed 2-1 at the half.

Late in the game, the Warriors scored three quick goals.

"I Was very pleased and I was impressed with the way the boys played that game," he added.

The next day the Panthers traveled down to Montrose.

"It would just have to say it was a controversial finish at best," Starr reported. "The referee had added five minutes of stoppage time although there never was an injury. With about 4:50 into that stoppage time, they scored a goal. They were clearly off-sides but nothing was called and the goal was allowed."

Cullington scored off a headball with an assist from Jeff Yarbrough. Montrose came back with breakaway goals to take a 3-1 lead with about 10 minutes left in the game. Yarbrough scored successive goals to tie the game at 3-3 (which would have been at the end of regulation).

Starr received a yellow card following a discussion with the on-field official and for not paying attention to the line judge.

"That was a tough loss for our kids," he added.

The Panthers will host powerhouse Durango at 3 p.m. today, Sept. 27, at Norman Johnson Memorial Field. They will travel to Durango for a rematch at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, at Riverview Middle School Field.