YOUR AD HERE »

MCHS soccer blasts GJ Central, ties school record

Joshua Gordon
Kelly Ciesco, a Moffat County High School junior, kicks the ball toward the Grand Junction Central High School net Monday at Loudy-Simpson Park. Ciesco scored the first goal for the MCHS girls varsity soccer team, and the Bulldogs never let up, beating the Warriors 5-1.
Joshua Gordon

Box score from the Moffat County High School girls varsity soccer team’s game Monday against Grand Junction Central High School:

(Team — 1st half — 2nd half — final)

Moffat County — 2 — 3 — 5

Central — 0 — 1 — 1

MCHS leading scorers:

(Name — goals)

Kelly Ciesco — 2

Jazmine Swindler — 2

Kelsie Pomeroy — 1

Box score from the Moffat County High School girls varsity soccer team’s game Monday against Grand Junction Central High School:

(Team — 1st half — 2nd half — final)

Moffat County — 2 — 3 — 5

Central — 0 — 1 — 1



MCHS leading scorers:

(Name — goals)

Kelly Ciesco — 2



Jazmine Swindler — 2

Kelsie Pomeroy — 1

It seems the only thing the Moffat County High School girls varsity soccer team needed to succeed was a little bet.

The Bulldogs’ head coach, Harry Tripp, told his team last week if they beat the MCHS record for wins in a season, currently set at five, he would shave his goatee for the first time ever.

On Monday, the team scored early and often against Grand Junction Central High School at Loudy-Simpson Park, beating the Warriors, 5-1.

The victory was the third in a row for the Bulldogs and put their record at 5-7 overall, 2-7 Western Slope League, tying the school record.

“I have never shaved my goatee before, but I told them I would if they could beat the record,” Tripp said. “I don’t think they took me seriously at first, but they have stepped up in their last two games and have a great chance to beat the record.”

Junior Kelly Ciesco scored the first goal for the Bulldogs about halfway into the first half. Sophomore Kelsie Pomeroy scored before halftime to put the Bulldogs up 2-0, and Ciesco added another goal in the second period.

The team was without seniors Justine Hathhorn and Karen Bolton as well as sophomore Rose Howe.

Tripp said freshmen Brenna Ciesco and Jazmine Swindler stepped up their game.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better game from the two freshmen,” Tripp said of Brenna and Swindler. “They knew what they had to do and filled some voids we had with absent players.”

Swindler scored two goals in the second half, her first goals of the season.

“It felt awesome,” Swindler said of her goals. “I was happy I could step up and play more minutes and support my team on the field.”

The Warriors (2-11 overall) and the Bulldogs played a physical and vocal game, with both teams stating their team’s case.

Swindler said her team didn’t let the Warriors get in their heads.

“There was a lot of stuff said on the field,” she said. “We just kept our heads up and kept playing hard.”

The five goals was a season high for the Bulldogs. Tripp said his offense had one of its best games of the season.

“Our through balls are what really made the difference,” he said. “The grass wasn’t fast, and we had the wheels to get to the ball first. We took advantage of the type of defense they played.”

The Bulldogs have today off, but will play their last three games of the season on consecutive days.

The team will host Steamboat Springs on Wednesday and Palisade on Thursday and travel Friday to Battle Mountain.

“We will have a relax practice (today) and then get ready for Steamboat on Wednesday,” Tripp said. “If we take it to them and play like we did (Monday), I think we can beat them.”

Click here to have the print version of the Craig Daily Press delivered to your home.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Craig and Moffat County make the Craig Press’ work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.