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Moffat County girls soccer takes Basalt, 4-2

League opener puts Bulldogs at 1-0 in 3A Western Slope

Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School's Brittany Swindler gets under the ball as it bounces from a corner kick during the girls soccer team's game against Basalt. The Bulldogs beat the Longhorns, 4-2.
Andy Bockelman

It may be premature to officially use the phrase “hot streak,” but the Moffat County High School girls soccer team is undoubtedly on a roll.

MCHS girls are 3-1 overall after their second win this week, a 4-2 victory against Basalt, marking the first Western Slope League game of the season. The Bulldogs are now 1-0 in the conference.

Following a 4-0 shutout in Rangely on Tuesday, the team came out with plenty of self-assurance, a feeling that grew as they took it to the Longhorns. Delaney Baker booted in the first goal midway through the first half, repeating the process shortly later. as Basalt goalie Kate Schrock slowed the ball on another shot by Baker, only to have it slip through her fingers and cross the line.



Just as 40 minutes were almost up, Alex Samuelson blasted in another score off the assist by the Brittany Swindler — her second of the game — from long range right into the corner of the goal.

The second half saw Baker quickly clinch the hat trick, while on the other side of the field Hannah Walker was working on giving the Longhorns a goose egg.



Walker’s cautious nature in the first half changed to that of a more daring keeper as she repeatedly charged out to snatch the ball away from the opposition as well as provide plenty of deflections for 20 total saves, most of which came before players could get off a shot.

“I think I came out a little too early,” Walker said. “The girls did really good helping me with that.”

Basalt’s Callie Card and Kaity Johnson seized their chances when Walker was out of position for the Longhorns’ only goals of the day and the first of their year.

“I think we came out a lot stronger in the second half,” Basalt coach Andrew Huntsman said. “We have a lot of young players and a lot of players in new positions. We have a lot to work on, but I was proud how they came out. We have strong players on the field, and they’re starting to work together.”

Basalt is 0-2 after a 1-0 loss to Aspen in their first game. Against Moffat County, the team recorded nine shots and Schrock 16 saves.

Baker was responsible for half of the 28 shots on goal for the Bulldogs, her 14 exceeding the 11 she had against Rangely, one of which scored. Samuelson had two against the Panthers, and Janea Warrior added one.

MCHS coach Harry Tripp said the Basalt game was exactly the kind of play he wants to see from the girls as the season continues. The Bulldogs’ next game is a non-league home match Tuesday with Granby.

“That was a good-looking squad; they all communicated and back-passed well,” he said. “We all trusted each other, and it was just a good team game.”

Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or abockelman@CraigDailyPress.com or follow him on Twitter @CDP_Sports.


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