WHEAT RIDGE — Kent Denver has a date with No. 1 Cherry Creek after the fifth-seeded Sun Devils beat No. 4 Wheat Ridge 11-6 to reach the Class 5A boys lacrosse semifinals.
Wheat Ridge senior Courtney Nelson (11) attempts to save a ball from going out of play. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LAKEWOOD — A pair of header goals, an impressive breakaway finish and another stellar defensive effort Saturday afternoon pushed Wheat Ridge into the Class 4A girls soccer state quarterfinals for the second straight year.
The No. 2-seeded Farmers got first half header goals from senior Courtney Nelson (28th minute) and junior Rylie Pachello (34th minute) to provide a 2-0 halftime lead over No. 15 Niwot.
“We’ve been able to score several times on corners and set pieces,” Wheat Ridge coach Dan Watkins said after the 3-0 victory that concluded a triplerheader of 4A playoff action at Lakewood Memorial Field. “That was big to get that second goal. It really put us in good position to control how we wanted to play the rest of the game.”
Nelson’s header edged past Niwot goalie Alexandra Colvin on the near post, while Pachello’s header was off a corner kick from junior Melissa Browne that zipped into the back of the net with authority.
“I just saw the ball coming at me. I’m always looking for headers toward corner kicks,” Pachello said. “It’s the best feeling when your head on it. It doesn’t happen that often. When it comes you have to take advantage of it.”
Wheat Ridge (15-2 record) scored the lone goal in the second half on a breakaway run by sophomore Molly Kratzer in the 52nd minute.
Wheat Ridge’s Rylie Pachello, right, scored the second goal in a 3-0 win Saturday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletic)
“The effort was by my team in getting the ball up there, I just had to get it into the back of the net,” Kratzer said. “It was all my team’s effort clearing the ball and getting it up. I just finished it.”
The Farmers’ defense did the rest holding Niwot (12-5) to just three shots on goal. It was the 10th shutout victory of the season for Wheat Ridge sophomore goalie Logan DuFord.
“I’ve never played on a team where I feel so confident in my defense,” Kratzer said. “When the ball goes back there I’m like, ‘They’ve got it.’ They are solid and they win the ball every single time.”
Next ahead for Wheat Ridge is 4A Jeffco rival and No. 7 Evergreen. The Cougars (11-6) scored four unanswered goals in the second half in their second round playoff game against Standley Lake. Evergreen took a 5-1 victory.
Wheat Ridge’s Courtney Nelson (11) and Niwot’s Kenzie Pasma (17) battle for header. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Jeffco has showed its depth so far in the playoffs. Valor Christian, Wheat Ridge, D’Evelyn and Evergreen make up half the remaining field heading into the state quarterfinals scheduled for Wednesday, May 17. All eight top overall seeds advances with wins Saturday.
“It’s unbelievable. We’ve kind of known since the beginning that Jeffco has quality teams,” Watkins said of 4A Jeffco teams. “Evergreen is a fantastic team with very talented players that can be very dangerous. We’ll have to be at our best. To make it deep into the playoffs you should have to be at your best to advance.”
Watkins also hit a personal milestone with the playoff win Saturday. It was his 200th career win over his 16-year stint as Wheat Ridge’s girls soccer coach. The Farmers won back-to-back 4A titles in 2009 and 2010 under Watkins.
Wheat Ridge faces rival Evergreen in the 4A quarterfinals Wednesday, May 17, at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
AURORA — Regis Jesuit’s march to the Class 5A boys lacrosse title game is still on as the second-seeded Raiders beat No. 10 Columbine 10-4 on Saturday.
GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Cherry Creek baseball scored two in the first, which was all they needed in a 3-0 win over ThunderRidge on Saturday to win Class 5A Region 1.
ThunderRidge beat Bear Creek earlier in the day, while Cherry Creek topped Chatfield.
HIGHLANDS RANCH — Mountain Vista grabbed wins over Coronado and Ralston Valley on Saturday in regional action, advancing to the state baseball tournament. Ralston Valley beat Fruita Monument before falling to the Golden Eagles.
GREELEY — Faith Christian got two RBIs from Tyler Mattingley in a 8-3 win over The Academy on Saturday in regional play. The Eagles beat University later in the day to advance to the Class 3A state tournament.
Arapahoe junior Meg Hanson (15) attempts to get by Columbine sophomore Madison Hadden (7). Hanson scored the game-winning goal in overtime Friday night for the Warriors. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
A goal by Arapahoe junior Meg Hanson two minutes into overtime abruptly ended the season for the Jeffco League and No. 5-seeded Rebels.
“I was really nervous taking that shot,” Hanson said of the game-winning goal that came after a foul by the Rebels. “It was a kind of a low angle shot. I saw the right side was open and bounced in the shot.”
The No. 12 Warriors celebrated a 12-11 upset victory at Trailblazer Stadium. Arapahoe moves onto the state quarterfinals where they will face No. 4 Chaparral.
Last year, it was the Rebels who entered the state tournament as the No. 12 seed. Columbine knocked off No. 5 Denver East 6-5 to advance to the state quarterfinals.
“We were the underdogs in that position last year and we took it away from East,” Columbine coach Sonorah Hunter said. “Obviously, Arapahoe came out with nothing to lose mentality and that brought their level of intensity up. They outplayed us today.”
Columbine (13-3 record) outplayed Arapahoe early with a 5-1 lead through the first dozen minutes of the first half. Alea Tooley, Maura Singer, Maeve Hungerford and Whitney Block got goals early. The Rebels were even aided by Arapahoe putting in an own-goal, but the Warriors never doubted they could mount a comeback.
“We just had the fire in our bellies,” Hanson said. “Even when we were down we had trust in each other and the process.”
Arapahoe worked its way back tying the game at 7-7 going into halftime. The Warriors took a 8-7 lead in the first five minutes of the second half with a goal from junior Collette Lemanske. However, a small weather cell moved in to create a 45-minute lightning delay with 20:50 left in regulation time.
The delay clearly didn’t hurt Arapahoe (10-6). The Warriors outscored the Rebels 3-1 coming out of the break to take a 11-8 lead with six minutes to play.
“I think that helped us,” Hanson said of the lightning delay. “Once we got into the locker room we all got pumped up. We got our confidence up and kept the energy up.”
Columbine’s Maeve Hungerford (31) puts a ball past Arapahoe goalie Rachel Searle. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Columbine rallied with three straight goals over a span of three minutes to tie the game at 11-11. Singer, sophomore Emma Maxwell and Hungerford scored to tie things up with two minutes to play in the second half.
Hanson had a good chance to grab the lead in the final minute, but her shot went just wide and the game went into overtime.
“We talked about being the underdog and having that underdog mentality,” Arapahoe coach Brianna Huynh said. “There was no pressure on us. We just had to play our game, stay composed and come out with the win.”
That is just what the Warriors did in overtime. Columbine junior goalie Annie Van Norstrand made a pair of saves early in the extra session, but couldn’t stop the game-winning goal by Hanson. The Rebels couldn’t get a shot on goal in overtime.
“Defensively I thought we played awesome,” Hunter said. “They gave the offensive all the opportunities. We just didn’t capitalize on those.”
Columbine was without junior Angela Naughton on the offensive side. The 30-goal scorer was injured April 20 against Dakota Ridge and wasn’t able to get back on the field after the injury.
“I was hoping to get her (Naughton) back later in the season. It unfortunate she doesn’t get to play,” Hunter said. “She does give a spark to these team, but ultimately this team was more than capable of doing it themselves.”
Columbine was riding a 10-game winning streak coming into the playoffs.
“Our team isn’t accustom to being one of the top-ranked teams in the state,” Hunter said. “It’s a great lesson for them. It’s an important loss for us today.”
Arapahoe’s Cami Goldsberry (12) looks for room around Columbine’s Sara Whitelaw. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Dakota Ridge sophomore Logan Triplett (10) puts pressure on Palmer Ridge’s Sophia Parker during a playoff game Friday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LAKEWOOD — Emotions were flowing for Dakota Ridge’s girls lacrosse team after making history Friday night at Trailblazer Stadium.
The Eagles’ 11-10 overtime victory against Palmer Ridge advanced Dakota Ridge into the state quarterfinals for the first time in the program’s history.
“It’s a dream come true,” Dakota Ridge senior goalie Katelynn Smith said. “I love this team will all my heart. I want to go as far as possible.”
Smith was a huge reason the No. 8-seeded Eagles were able to edge No. 9 Palmer Ridge. The Bears (11-5 record) scored back-to-back goals in the final five minutes of regulation time to tie things up 10-10.
Palmer Ridge’s leading goal scorer, senior Sam Rippley, had a golden opportunity to put in the game-winning goal to prevent overtime. Rippley had a shot from point-blank range on Smith with five seconds left in regulation time, but the senior made the save.
“I was a little scared to be honest,” Smith admitted. “You have no idea if they are going to try to shoot up on top of you. It all worked out. I did good, so it’s all good.”
Smith was good in overtime too. Palmer Ridge got off a pair of shots that Smith made clean saves on. The performance in net allowed the Eagles (15-1) get their own chance to end the game in the final seconds of the first 3-minute overtime period.
Dakota Ridge’s Jamie Smith (20) and Palmer Ridge’s Abby O’Hara (10) battle for a loose ball. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“Katelynn knew this game was going to come down to draws and goalies,” Dakota Ridge coach Jordan Hogan said. “She knew she was going to have to have one of the best games she as ever played. She had the best game I’ve ever seen her play. She got a game ball.”
Senior Hannah Johnson earned a game ball too with the game-winning goal. Johnson had possession behind the Bears’ net with the final seconds ticking off the clock. She maneuvered near the left post and pulled off perhaps the biggest goal in Dakota Ridge girls lacrosse history.
“Everything was moving and everything was crazy. I didn’t want this to be my last game,” Johnson said. “The crease roll is my signature shot. I knew if I didn’t do it nobody would. I just took a risk.”
Johnson’s shot got past Palmer Ridge goalie Olivia Ward with 2.8 seconds left in the first overtime period.
“It’s the most exhilarating feeling I’ve ever had,” Hogan said. “We couldn’t have asked for a better playoff game. Palmer Ridge came and brought absolutely everything it had and we gave everything we had. It was a fight to the end. Both teams gave it their all.”
Dakota Ridge’s leading scorers — senior Hannah Krats and junior Kailee Lammers — came up big combining for seven goals. Krats scored back-to-back goals a minute apart to give the Eagles a 10-8 lead before the Bears surged back to send the game into overtime.
Next up for Dakota Ridge will be a rematch of last year’s second-round match. The Eagles get a crack against No. 1 Colorado Academy. The Mustangs defeated the Eagles 19-6 during the state tournament last season.
“We are a totally different team this year. CA might be a little surprised of us making it out (advancing to the quarterfinals),” Hogan said. “We are a little more seasoned and older. My team is ready for it. I think it will be a different game this year.”
Colorado Academy shutout Cheyenne Mountain 18-0 in its second-round playoff game Friday. The Mustangs (14-2) haven’t lost to an in-state Colorado school since April 2, 2015. CA lost to Mullen more than two years ago.
“We want redemption,” Smith said of facing the two-time defending state champions. “We are coming back for it. We are excited.”
Dakota Ridge’s lone loss this season came against rival and No. 5 Columbine. The Rebels played right after the Eagles victory Friday at Trailblazer Stadium. Columbine’s game also went overtime, but the Rebels come up on the short end of a 12-11 victory for No. 12 Arapahoe.
Dakota Ridge seniors Hannah Johnson (29) and Hannah Krats (3) chase after Palmer Ridge’s Ashley Grob. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
