Tag: Jeffco

Golden and No. 5 Wheat Ridge girls soccer end in 1-1 draw

Wheat Ridge players, from left to right, Carlee Flanagan, Eliza Van Wetter, Frankee Broer and Macie Browne celebrate Broer’s game-tying goal with 1 minute, 27 seconds left in regulation time Thursday at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)

LAKEWOOD — There were plenty of exhausted soccer players looking toward the sky after 100 minutes of play Thursday at Lakewood Memorial Field.

Class 4A Jeffco League rivals Golden and Wheat Ridge, ranked No. 5 in this week’s CHSAANow.com 4A girls soccer poll, settled for a 1-1 tie after 80 minutes of regulation and a pair of 10-minute overtime periods.

“It was a tough tie. Two really great teams out there. They both left it all out there,” Golden coach Luke Vanderglas said. “I’m proud of my girls and proud of (Wheat Ridge’s) girls too.”

The Demons (3-2-1, 1-2-1 4A Jeffco League) looked primed to pull off the upset. After a scoreless first half, Golden senior Hannah Stoner fired a laser in the 49th minute that beat Wheat Ridge goalkeeper Abby Bausch to give Golden a 1-0 lead.

“She (Stoner) stepped up and played it to the right side,” Vanderglas said. “She buried it to the near post. It was a great shot and great composure.”

Wheat Ridge junior Nikki Strickler (19) heads a ball in front of Golden junior Jailene Rabadan on Thursday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)

However, with less than two minutes to play in regulation time the Farmers (8-1-1, 3-0-1) got the equalizer. Junior Frankee Broer got her foot on the ball in the goalie box. The ball spun toward the far side of the net and just got inside the post with 1:27 left in the second half.

“I think we were was a little scared, but our team always plays to the end, the last second, the last minute. I knew we were going to get it,” Broer said. “I honestly was scared it wasn’t going in. It went in. That’s all that matters.”

It was the fourth time this season Wheat Ridge has gone into overtime. The Farmers got overtime victories against Holy Family and Standley Lake, but lost to Ponderosa nearly a month ago.

“We threw some players forward. I don’t think we necessarily panicked, but I think with that sense of urgency we created a lot of energy,” Wheat Ridge coach Dan Watkins said. “When you throw the ball into the box with extra players there good things happen.”

Wheat Ridge junior Eliza Van Wetter and freshman Macie Browne had the best scoring chances in the extra sessions. Both of their shots sailed just wide of the net.

“Based on being down and needing to claw back into it to get a result in league, but we wanted to get the win for sure,” Watkins said. “The kids were very resilient, but credit Golden. They did a really nice job closing down opportunities for us.”

The Farmers were missing leading goal scorer in sophomore Alexandra Nillen and freshman defender Kyra Midroy. Both were out of town with club teams, according to Watkins. Nillen and Midroy will be back in town Sunday and with the team in another critical conference game next week.

Golden senior Katie Tubbs (19) battles with Wheat Ridge junior Eliza Van Wetter for control of the ball during the second half Thursday at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)

Wheat Ridge has a key showdown with Evergreen (9-0, 4-0) at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, back at Lakewood Memorial Field.

The Cougars, ranked No. 2, has given up just one goal so far this season. Evergreen stands atop the very competitive 4A Jeffco standings after a 1-0 win Thursday over its chief rival Conifer.

“Evergreen is the next one up and they are a fantastic team, a very talented team, but we’ve got a good group too,” Watkins said. “We are going to go out and give our best effort and see if we can pull out that one.”

Golden has a pair of non-league road games coming up. The Demons head to District 6 Stadium in Greeley for a 7 p.m. game Friday, April 10, against Greeley Central. Golden stays on the road when it faces Englewood at 6 p.m. Monday, April 13.

“We are getting better every single day,” Vanderglas said. “That’s all I’m asking from these girls.”

Wheat Ridge junior Maggie Hofmann (15) and Golden senior Katie Kriedle (14) eye a shot off Hofmann’s foot during the first half Thursday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. The Class 4A Jeffco rivals finished in a 1-1 tie. (Dennis Pleuss)

April 10, 2015
Barton wastes no time for Columbine girls soccer in win over A-West

Columbine junior Tatum Barton (10) attempt to maintain possession of the ball with four Arvada West defenders in the vicinity Wednesday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. Barton scored 22 seconds into the Class 5A Jeffco League match as the Rebels went on to a 3-0 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)

LAKEWOOD — Columbine junior Tatum Barton wasn’t a procrastinator Wednesday night at Lakewood Memorial Field.

The reigning Class 5A player of the year scored 22 seconds into the Rebels’ 5A Jeffco League match against Arvada West. Columbine, the defending 5A state champion, went on to cruise to a 3-0 victory in its conference opener.

“That was different,” Barton said of her goal in the opening minute where she turned and fired a left-footed shot from just outside the 18-yard box. “I just always shoot, 24/7. It went in.”

Barton was coming off a three-goal performance Monday night in a 4-1 non-league victory against Highlands Ranch.

“Any coach will tell you if you can score a goal in the first couple minutes, let alone the first 22 seconds, that will get you off on the right foot for sure,” Columbine coach Brian Todd said.

Barton scored her ninth goal of the season early in the second half to put the Rebels (5-2, 1-0 in league) ahead 3-0. Columbine sophomore Marin Olson’s initial shot rocketed off the cross bar, but Barton was there for the rebound and put it into the back of the net.

Columbine freshman Nikoletta Apergis (9) battles with Arvada West junior Cassie Feely (13) near the sideline Wednesday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. Despite a 45-minute lightning delay, Columbine came away with a 3-0 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)

“We were saying she (Barton) was special last year and she was only a sophomore,” Todd said of Barton who had 26 goals during the Rebels’ run to the program’s first girls soccer state title last season. “She is special again and she is only a junior. Teams are going to have to put up with her next year.”

Columbine junior Kelcey Cavarra scored the second goal of the game for the Rebels. Cavarra put home a penalty kick in the 26th minute before a 45-minute lightning delay late in the first half.

“Give A-West credit. They did play the whole 80 minutes. Up 3-0 can cripple a team,” Todd said. “You can do some things differently in the way you hold possession and defend. You are in control and can dictate the pace.”

A-West’s best scoring chance came shortly after Barton’s opening goal, but the Wildcats (4-4, 1-1) weren’t able to get a shot past Columbine senior goalkeeper Sarah Luebking.

“This game was hard because we gave up that goal right away,” A-West coach Troy Gette said after the Wildcats suffered their fourth shutout loss of the season. “There was no recovering from that. We just weren’t ready and focused.”

A-West continues its conference stretch against Chatfield (3-4, 1-1) at 5 p.m. Friday at the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada.

Columbine returns to Lakewood Memorial to face Bear Creek (2-7, 0-2) at 5 p.m. Friday.

The Rebels and rival Ralston Valley (5-1-1, 1-0) are out to an early lead in the conference. Columbine, Ralston Valley and Standley Lake (now in 4A Jeffco) all finished with 6-2 league marks last season.

“We have a lot of new players that really help us,” Barton said of the newest edition of the Rebels. “We definitely lost good players from last year. We are a different team this year. We’ll see how it goes.”

Arvada West junior Annika Brunger (11) gets to the ball ahead of Columbine senior Kelsey Clark (5) during the first half Wednesday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)

Arvada West freshman Kynlee Post (2) gets her head on the ball during the first half Wednesday at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)

April 9, 2015
Wheat Ridge baseball edges Ralston Valley with walk-off walk

Wheat Ridge senior Colton Dombroski, second from the left, is mobbed by teammates after scoring the game-winning run Saturday afternoon against Ralston Valley. The Farmers took a 5-4 victory for their third straight victory. (Dennis Pleuss)

WHEAT RIDGE — The saying “a walk is as good as a hit” rang true Saturday afternoon for Wheat Ridge’s baseball team.

Wheat Ridge freshman Abe Apodaca found himself at the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning, two outs and the bases loaded in a 4-4 tie against Ralston Valley in the non-league game at Everitt Middle School. Apodaca fell behind 0-2 in the count, but worked the count full against Ralston Valley junior pitcher Reed Hutchin.

Apodaca kept the bat on his shoulder on a 3-2 pitch that was called a ball. The Farmers’ dugout emptied to greet senior Cole Dombroski who scored the game-winning run in the 5-4 victory on Apodaca’s walk before mobbing Apodaca after he touched first base.

“It’s so great for Abe because it just hasn’t shown on the field,” Wheat Ridge coach Adam Miller said of his freshman that was 0-for-3 from the plate before the RBI walk-off walk. “You watch him during batting practice and he is one of our top two or three hitters. Every ball he hits in on a line, but he’s a freshman.”

Ralston Valley second baseman Caleb Squire (24) throws to first base after forcing out Wheat Ridge senior Willie Harris during the first inning Saturday. Squire had a great day offensively going 3-for-4 from the plate scoring two runs, but it wasn’t enough as the Mustangs lost 5-4. (Dennis Pleuss)

Apodaca’s patience at the plate allowed the Farmers (5-3) to win their third straight after dropping a pair of one-run losses to Heritage and Monarch to start the season. Ralston Valley (6-2) saw its three-game winning streak end with the loss.

“You don’t want to lose the game that way, but the fact of the matter is the guy (winning run) was on because of an error earlier in the inning,” Ralston Valley coach Robby Bales said. “That’s on us.”

Dombroski led off the bottom of the seventh inning reaching base on a throwing error. Hutchin, who came into pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning for starter Dalton Pribble, issued a pair of intentional walks during the inning but was still one out away of getting out of the jam and forcing extra innings.

“He (Apodaca) has been working hard every day. The whole team has really taken him in as one of us and like he has been here for four years,” Dombroski said. “Every player on the team had faith in him.”

Senior Nate Sanchez and Dombroski combined for four hits and three runs in the victory. Seniors Dante DeCarlo and Diego Garcia also had key RBIs for the Farmers.

Garcia has earned the trust of his Wheat Ridge teammates and coaches through the first month of the season. Garcia pitched a complete-game, two-hit shutout in his last outing on the mound during the Farmers’ spring break trip to Arizona. The senior went the distance against Ralston Valley to pick up his second victory on the season.

“He (Garcia) just put the team on his back,” Dombroski said. “He has done that all season. He is constantly getting better. It’s been awesome to have him out there.”

Garcia gave up nine hits over the seven innings. He also had an RBI single in the third inning that tied the game at 2-2 after Ralston Valley jumped out to an early 2-0 lead.

“He (Garcia) has been strong all season long,” Miller said. “It’s his year. It’s his senior year and he has worked hard to get to this point. He was really good.”

Miller admits he would like to see more out of his offense. The Farmers stranded eight runners in the first four innings. They also scored all five runs with two outs.

“We were better today offensively, but there is a lot left in the tank for us,” Miler said. “We haven’t had those six or seven guys step up and hit for us. It’s coming. When it does we’ll be really good.”

Senior Caleb Squire and junior Peter Carlson led Ralston Valley offensively in the loss. Squire and Carlson each went 3-for-4 from the plate.

Wheat Ridge has a busy schedule next week hosting a trio of games, starting with Fredrick (Monday) followed by Thornton (Thursday). The Farmers get into the swing of their 4A Jeffco schedule against Conifer on April 11.

“I think personally it’s the best 4A league in the state this year with Valor Christian, Littleton and Standley Lake coming in, then Green Mountain is the champs,” Miller said.

Ralston Valley has one more tune-up before beginning its 5A Jeffco conference schedule. The Mustangs host Valor, ranked No. 4 in 4A, on Tuesday. Ralston Valley opening league play at home against Columbine next on April 11.

Ralston Valley junior Peter Carlson, right, slides back into first base ahead of the tag by Wheat Ridge junior Myles Dolan during the non-league game Saturday. (Dennis Pleuss)

Wheat Ridge senior Diego Garcia throws to first base on a pick-off attempt Saturday against Ralston Valley. Garcia earned his second complete-game victory on the mound in the 5-4 win against the Mustangs. (Dennis Pleuss)

Wheat Ridge senior Dante DeCarlo slides into home plate as Ralston Valley catcher Gavin Schack waits for a throw during the third inning Saturday. The Farmers rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to eventually take a 5-4 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)

April 4, 2015
Chatfield girls lacrosse begins quest for three-peat in Jeffco

Chatfield’s McKenna Milton (21) fires a shot on goal during the Chargers’ 23-4 victory Thursday at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood. Chatfield is attempting to win its third straight Jeffco League title this season. (Dennis Pleuss)

LAKEWOOD — Chatfield, two-time defending Jeffco League champion in girls lacrosse, opened conference play Thursday with a statement victory.

The Chargers defeated Wheat Ridge 23-4 at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood in the league opener for both teams. Clearly, Chatfield has no intention of handing off its conference trophy anytime soon.

“League is really important for us to win. We want to have the three-peat,” Chatfield senior Kendra Lanuza said after her seven-goal, five-assist performance. “That’s our main goal and focus.”

The focus was definitely there early for the Chargers. Kendra and her younger sister Jen combined to score Chatfield’s first five goals in the first three minutes of the game to put the Chargers in control early. The Lanuza sisters racked up 10 goals and five assists in the first half.

Chatfield senior Kendra Lanuza (4) gets off a shot in a crowd of Wheat Ridge defenders Thursday during the first half of the Chargers’ 23-4 victory. Kendra and her younger sister Jen combined for 13 goals in the Jeffco League opener at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss)

“They (Lanuza sisters) are definitely leaders on the field. They have been great for us,” Chatfield coach Adam Everett said of Kendra and Jen, who have both started on varsity since they were freshmen. “They are the offensive weapons we need.”

Jen Lanuza, a junior, finished with six goals and two assists against Wheat Ridge.

“We really rely on each other down on attack because we trust each other,” Kendra said of her sister. “We have been playing together for a long time and we’ve got that chemistry.”

Seniors Summer Stafford and Brielle Rumsey each contributed three goals each for the Chargers. Freshman Riley Leischner had two goals. Ellie Cassel and Tess Albert closed out the scoring with one tally each for Chatfield.

Chatfield (4-4, 1-0 in Jeffco) has four losses already this season, but three were close games against ThunderRidge, Arapahoe and Cherry Creek. All of which are ranked in the top-10 of the CHSAANow.com girls lacrosse poll.

“I’m glad we played those tough non-league games, but those were tough. Against (Colorado Academy) we just didn’t show up,” Everett said of Chatfield’s 18-3 loss Tuesday to top-ranked Colorado Academy. “It was a bad game for us.”

Chatfield advanced to the state semifinals last year before suffering its lone loss of the season to eventual state champion Air Academy. Kendra Lanuza had three goals and a pair of assists in the 22-8 semifinal loss to the Kadets.

The University of Denver-bound midfielder has already surpassed the 200-career goal mark. She currently has 228 goals and 97 assists during her stellar career.

While the Chargers graduated several key components from last year’s 17-1 squad, a third-straight Jeffco League title is still a reachable goal.

“We set our goal on going through the league undefeated,” Everett said. “I think the league is tougher than it has been in the past. We need to respect all our league opponents because pretty much anybody can beat us.”

Chatfield returns to Trailblazer Stadium for a conference game against Green Mountain at 4 p.m. on April 7.

Wheat Ridge senior Ryann Pierce was a bright spot for the Farmers. Pierce had a hand in all four of Wheat Ridge’s goals with three tallies and an assist on senior Amanda Malecki’s goal.

Wheat Ridge faces rival Golden at 7 p.m. on April 9, at Trailblazer Stadium.

Chatfield senior Kendra Lanuza (4) gets off a shot in a crowd of Wheat Ridge defenders Thursday during the first half of the Chargers’ 23-4 victory. Kendra and her younger sister Jen combined for 13 goals in the Jeffco League opener at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss)

April 3, 2015