CORTEZ – The result was worth the wait.
Not just the nearly three-hour weather delay that postponed kickoff Friday night, but the end of a seven-year winless streak against Ridgway. Montezuma-Cortez High School’s boys soccer team finally broke through, defeating the Demons 4-2 in their home opener.
The Panthers controlled possession throughout their first home match of the season, improving to 1-1 under fourth-year head coach Juan Soto. He hopes the win will build momentum and boost team confidence.
Sophomores Brandon Zamora-Ruiz and Chase York scored back-to-back goals in the first half to give M-CHS an early edge. Ridgway responded before halftime to cut the lead to 2-1.
“Right after the first goal, you could see the confidence building up,” Soto said. “And that’s when we got the second one.”
Freshman Landon Yarbrough netted his first high school goal early in the second half to restore the two-goal cushion. Ridgway answered again, but Zamora-Ruiz sealed the win with a late goal off a well-placed cross.
“The kids communicated well, played their positions, made great wall passes – they love playing that style,” Soto said.
Coming off a 3-0 loss to Bloomfield, the Panthers showed resilience that encourages Soto ahead of three more nonleague games in the next two weeks.
“This group has a hunger to win,” Soto said. “And that led us to be more aggressive, but also more coordinated.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Gael Fernandez made several key saves to keep Ridgway at bay, earning praise from Soto.
“He’s vocal, tells his defense where he wants them to be – and he attacks the ball,” Soto said.
Soto also highlighted the leadership emerging among the Class of ’28, which anchors the midfield and attack.
“They’ve played together for so many years and have been communicating both on and off the field,” he said. “So when they get the ball, they know exactly where to put it to find their teammates.”
The Panthers continue their four-match homestand Saturday, Aug. 30, against Eagle Valley at 11 a.m. They’ll face Telluride on Sept. 5 and Moffat County on Sept. 6 before opening Intermountain League play on the road against defending champion Pagosa Springs on Sept. 9.
