The Panthers are hoping that the 2023 season is the start of something special.
Under second-year head coach Juan Soto, Montezuma-Cortez High School brings in a roster full of experience, combined with a jolt of energy from the underclassmen as the Panthers look to make noise in a wide-open 3A Intermountain League chase this season.
M-CHS returns several key contributors from last year’s 2-10 squad, led by seniors Raul Soto and Myles Larrick. The duo join juniors Ben Hoffman and Abraham Hafner as threats for M-CHS to unlock opposing defenses.
On the back line, juniors Atticus Keel and Carter Tanner look to help the Panthers maintain their defensive shape and bottle up their foes this year. The Panthers last line of defense, junior Samson Lein, honed his skills last season as the Panther starting goalkeeper, and looks to keep opponents off the scoreboard.
The upperclassmen leaders will look to develop the younger talent – of which Soto’s team has plenty. Two-thirds of the roster is underclassmen, and while several of the sophomores saw significant minutes last year, the Panthers will undoubtedly lean on immediate impact coming from the newcomers this fall.
M-CHS opened the slate with a 1-1 tie in its home opener against the Ridgway Demons on Friday, Aug. 25. From there, the Panthers will travel to Bloomfield and Rifle before beginning IML play on the road in Bayfield on Sept. 5.
The first league game at home will see Pagosa Springs make a visit to M-CHS on Sept. 8, before a tournament in Rehoboth, New Mexico will give the Panthers some unfamiliar foes over the weekend of Sept. 14-16.
The final four regular season matches this fall will be at home for the Panthers, capped with honoring the seniors in their final home match on Oct. 17 against Bayfield.
