EDWARDS \u2014 And, lo, the sun came out and there was actually a sports contest.<\/p>\n
After \u2014 knock wood \u2014 Snowpocalypse 2019, and some considerable shoveling and plowing, Battle Mountain soccer took down Steamboat Springs, 2-0, after both teams had been limited in practice for most of the week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely frantic at the beginning,\u201d said Huskies senior Audrey Teague, who scored both of Battle Mountain\u2019s goals. \u201cOnce we got in a rhythm it all started to click. Our team is so gelled because we\u2019ve been together for the last few years. We\u2019re playing for each other. I think it was nice because we got to play a very good team today and got to see what we need to do to improve on the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both teams looked out of sorts. Steamboat Springs (0-2 overall and 0-1 in the 4A Slope) has only been on a full pitch once this season, a 5-0 loss at Colorado Academy. Gardner Field is still under snow and is finally getting plowed in the next day or two, according to Sailors coach Rob Bohlmann.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was great to be out on a field for the second time this season,\u201d Bohlmann said. \u201cThere was a lot of growth from last week to this week. It\u2019s early season with limited time on a big field. There\u2019s a lot of growth to be had. I thought the work rate was good. We\u2019re going to go back work on Monday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Battle Mountain (2-0 both overall and in the Slope) struggled to connect passes, particularly in the first half.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe a little more volleyball and a little less tennis,\u201d Huskies coach David Cope joked. \u201cCan we play two or three touches before we knock it to the corner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite some sloppy play early, Battle Mountain got on the board when Teague was taken down in the left side of the box. She cooly tapped a grounder toward the right side of the net during the 30th minute.<\/p>\n
While the Huskies played better in the second half, they might have gotten a break on their second score. Teague cracked a shot that caught the crossbar and deflected off the back of Sailors keeper Lupori. Cope was joking in the postgame huddle that he wanted VAR (video-assistant replay) on the shot, thinking it was already in before the goaltender\u2019s deflection.<\/p>\n
Either way, Saturday was a just result. Maybe Teague was lucky on her second goal, but both Gabby Caballero and Teague also hit iron on shots, so it balances out.<\/p>\n
Also, players like Teague make their luck by putting the ball on the frame. Saturday, it was Teague with two. Caballero had a hat trick during the season opener at Eagle Valley. There are others in the offensive mix who will likely get on the scoresheet for the Huskies as the season continues.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re working together a lot better than we were before,\u201d Teague said. \u201cI think with a common goal all of us want everyone to do really well so we\u2019re trying to get each other chances.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Huskies will need to pick it up for their next opponent as Evergreen comes to town on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a great chance to play a good opponent outside of our league at home,\u201d said Cope, perhaps considering a glimpse at future rating-percentage indexes. \u201cIt\u2019ll be great. We have girls who aspire to play at another level. They have girls who aspire to play at another level, so it\u2019s a great test for us early in the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cougars are playoff regulars and traditionally play deep into May, something to which the Huskies aspire.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Steamboat Springs will host Aspen on Thursday at 6 p.m., and also need to reschedule its first fixture with Eagle Valley.<\/p>\n