RANGELY | Spring sports are coming to an end even though they seem to have just started a few weeks ago. The lady Panthers soccer team had two games this past week, one against Grand Valley at home and the other on the road at Moffat County. On Tuesday, April 24, they hosted Grand Valley with some returning players playing for the first time in a few weeks.
“The team fought hard to come up with a win even though we scored twice it was not enough to get them by Grand Valley. The girls played hard and fought the entire 80 minutes of the game. The score after the first half was two to one, which gave the girls the fight to work hard and come out strong the second half,” said coach Patsy Wanstedt.
The second half the girls scored one more only to have the Grand Valley Cardinals to score one more also and take the lead. The lady Panthers had six different players who had shots on goal: senior Maria Blakely (2), junior Aspen Rhea (2), freshman Kacie Lapp (5), senior Klaire Denny (3 with an assist), junior Skylar Thacker (3-one in) and senior Grace Kenney had one goal.
“Our goalie, junior KK Fortunato, worked hard to keep us in the game. All the girls have improved with each game they play,” Wanstedt said.
The lady Panthers traveled to Moffat County on Thursday, April 26 to have a rematch against the lady Bulldogs with the sun shining. Both varsity teams came ready to play each wanting to get the win.
“As the game started you could feel the energy from both teams. At the end of the first half the Lady Panthers knew they had their work cut out for them. With that being said the girls fought to come back coming up short by one,” Wanstedt said. The final score was 4-3. Senior Klaire Denny scored a goal, junior Skylar Thacker having two shots with one going in, senior Grace Kenney shot twice with one goal going in with an assist from senior Katelynn Brown who also had a shot on goal. The energy on the field could be felt by both teams.
The lady Panthers also played a JV game on Thursday knowing that the lady Bulldogs would want revenge from our last match up. During the last game JV won 3-2.The players were ready to play and played different positions during this game. Six different players had shots on goal to come up with the win 2-1 against the lady Bulldogs. Junior Marlena Miller (1), senior Elizabeth McCann (1), senior Halie Elam (3), junior Jayde Trumbley (1), junior KK Fortunato (1-1), freshman Kacie Lapp (4-1).
“With the last two games behind us the girls are driven to get the win especially since we came up short by one goal,” Wanstedt said.
The lady Panthers will have three games this coming week. They play Tuesday, May 1 at home against Roaring Fork, travel Thursday May 3 to Colorado Rocky Mountain School and finish the week on Friday home against Delta, which will also be parent appreciation night. Come out to cheer these girls on who have worked so hard in such a short season.
