Otero tops Garden City in season opener

By Mike Pilosof

La Junta, CO-Before he left Garden City on Thursday, first-year Garden City coach Corey Bryant felt like his team had really built something after two competitive scrimmages.

But he and his squad left La Junta visibly frustrated, and it was one-half of soccer that did them in.

Otero scored three goals in the first 41 minutes of the match, Garden City was limited to just one shot on goal the entire afternoon, and the Broncbusters suffered a season-opening loss 3-0.

"The first half was the worst half of soccer we've played all year," Bryant said. "We gave up three really bad goals."

Thania Jaime Soto put the Rattlers on top with a goal in the 18^th minute. Eight minutes after that, Emma Jaurez made it 2-0.

"The effort was much better in the second half," Bryant explained. "But the soccer still wasn't great. The heat was a huge factor for the girls once we got to the second half."

But before they reached the intermission, Otero struck again. With less than four minutes remaining, Ivory Martinez snuck a ball just past the reach of Kaylee Keller, putting the Rattlers up 3-0.

"Unfortunately we played most of the match with only three subs," Bryant added. "We just couldn't really get anything going."

Garden City was out shot 10-5 with their lone shot on goal coming off the right foot of Ariana Sanchez.

The Broncbusters have Friday off before getting back on the road to face Central on Saturday afternoon. Game time set for noon.