CORTEZ – Emotions seeped into the evening post-match celebration for the Panthers.
As Montezuma-Cortez High School mingled with family and friends after their resounding 7-0 win over Grand Junction Central on Senior Day, there was a sense that the torch was being passed from the Class of 2025 to the up-and-coming group that will soon steer the Panthers.
Amid tearful hugs, the Panthers could rest assured that their match in front of an energetic Panther Stadium crowd wouldn’t be their last. Their winning season will include another act, and for the first time in over 20 years, their postseason stage will be their home field.
While M-CHS awaits their postseason assignment Sunday by the Colorado High School Activities Association, the Panthers head into the postseason brimming with confidence – and with at least one more match for seniors to make a mark.
The Panthers honored a half dozen seniors and second-year head coach Melody Harris recognized the class that saw the emergence of a potential powerhouse that won back-to-back IML titles. Nine wins this season matched their mark from their sophomore season, and while the program advanced to the 3A state tournament each of those years, M-CHS had to hit the road for their opening round.
M-CHS made quick work of the visiting Warriors on Wednesday evening, scoring in the first minute after freshman Kyndall Schmitt collected a rebound off a save and tucked the ball in from close range. It was a sign of things to come – the Panthers enjoyed constant breakaway opportunities and added a brace from freshman Mia Glazner in the 17th and 24th minutes to extend the lead to 3-0. Sophomore Kaybree Smith redirected a Glazner corner kick in the 27th minute, and by then, the final result was a formality.
Senior Jordlan Mahler struck just after halftime for the first of two second half markers before freshman Emilynn Hill scored from a sharp angle in the final minute of regulation to cap the jubilant night.
It was a night for the seniors – and the Class of 2025 provided the spark. Senior Luna Moore, who provided the assist on a cross from the right wing for Glazner’s first goal, recognized just how special the season has been.
“It’s been fun, even with playing with basically a whole new team,” said Moore. “It took a few weeks, but then we all clicked – I think we were just learning how each other plays.”
The Panthers defense seldom faced real threats from the Warriors, but when they did, the back line was up to the task. For senior Emily Howell, the shift from an attacking role to central defense in her final year was a major adjustment, but it became a place where she found her home this year.
“Thankfully, we’ve got experienced defenders back there, and that’s helped me,” said Howell, as she joins classmate Halee Kibel and two juniors on in the starting back four, “it’s allowed me to be able to see the field from a different perspective.”
The unbeaten streak extended to nine straight matches, including a 10-0 thrashing of Del Norte on Monday, while in seven matches of that streak, the Panthers posted a clean sheet.
“This year, there’s been a push for urgency,” Moore said, “so we’ve been pressing the ball, playing aggressive, but still playing our game.”
“We’ve worked hard – we didn’t have a team before our group came in,” added Howell, referring to how senior class rebuilt the program after the COVID-related complications wiped out the 2020 and 2021 seasons, “but we feel like we’ve earned what we’ve gotten.”
Their payoff will come in the form of an opportunity to join the field of 32 in the 3A state playoffs as an opening round host, hoping to add another chapter to an exciting spring.
