Ralston Valley junior Casia Provencal (5) pressures Arvada West junior Adriane Koehler during the first half Monday night at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

ARVADA — It took awhile, but Arvada West’s girls soccer team captured a huge victory Monday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.

Despite a pair of lightning delays that pushed back the original start time of 5 p.m. by more than two and a half hours, the Wildcats pushed through to grab a 2-1 victory over their rival.

Arvada West junior Sydney Trinder, left, and Ralston Valley junior Anna Schellpeper battle for possession of the ball during the Class 5A Jeffco League game Monday night at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“We had a wait for so long. It was a mental challenge. We pushed through it,” A-West junior Ashlyn Craig said after the game ended a little after 9 p.m. “We haven’t beat RV for a couple of years. The energy was really high.”

The last time A-West took a league victory over Ralston Valley was back during the 2016 season.

“They are all buddies and it’s a fun rivalry game,” A-West coach Troy Gette said.

Ralston Valley opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a goal by junior Kyla Rosenquist. The junior forward was able to knock in the goal after some good work in deep by Ralston Valley junior Saya Sabus.

“The girls kind of had it in their minds to keep on working hard no matter what,” Gette said of the Wildcats falling behind early. “Being as young as they are that is what they know. They work hard and let the game come to them.”

A-West answered in the 15th minute. A direct free kick wasn’t handled cleanly by Ralston Valley senior goalie Lilly VanAlsburg. Wildcat sophomore Aubrey Pixler buried the ball into the back of the net despite a ton of traffic in front.

Coming out of halftime A-West quickly took its first lead of the game. A direct free kick by Craig missed a number of bodies in front of the net before snaking into the goal. The score in the 46th minute ended up being the game-winning goal.

Ralston Valley’s Kyla Rosenquist, Saya Sabus and Makenna Hillis (21) celebrate Rosenquist’s goal in the 7th minute Monday night at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“I was hoping for the deflection,” Craig said on her game-winning goal. “I tried to place it for the far corner where the keeper sometimes can see it. There was a jumble in the front and it rolled right in.”

Gette has instructed Craig to fire a hard low shot toward the far post on the second set piece that yielded a goal for A-West (3-0 record, 3-0 in Class 5A Jeffco League).

“She (Craig) couldn’t have hit it better,” Gette said of the lone goal in the second half. “On set pieces like that you want to keep it playable. She did that and it worked out for us.”

Ralston Valley (1-3, 1-2) put some good pressure on A-West junior goalie Veronica Vessa in the final 10 minutes of the game, but the Wildcats were able to preserve the 1-goal victory.

“Shout out to V (Vessa). She had some great saves,” Craig said.

Gette said the majority of his young team is seeing its first varsity action this season. He knows the very talented Valor Christian (3-0, 3-0) squad will be tough to knock off this season, but he knows the future is bright for the Wildcats.

“If this isn’t our year we are definitely building for something special in the future,” Gette said.

Arvada West junior Ashlyn Craig (20) sends a pass up the field during a rainy Monday night at the NAAC. Craig’s free kick goal in the 46th minute proved to be the game-winning goal. It’s the first victory for A-West over Ralston Valley in girls soccer action since 2016. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

The Student Leadership committee has selected fifteen students from a competitive list of over eighty applicants to serve as the 2021-22 CHSAA State Reps. The final selections, which include a diverse group of students from every corner of Colorado, each offer unique backgrounds and perspectives that stood out among their peers.

“I was impressed with the resumes of each applicant,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Justin Saylor, who oversees student leadership. “Each student had proven leadership qualities, which made narrowing the list down extremely difficult. I commend the committee for their hard work and look forward to working with this group of State Reps over the course of next school year.”

The State Reps will have a daunting task ahead as they continue to navigate the obstacles put forth by the COVID-19 pandemic that shifted all 2020-2021 CHSAA Student Leadership events to virtual platforms and will continue into the 2021 Summer Conference.

Led by State Rep Advisor Trey Downey (Central HS – Grand Junction), the group will go to work right away, planning for all Student Leadership programming for the upcoming school year.

State Reps will have myriad responsibilities, some of which include sitting on various CHSAA committees, assisting in the coordination of Student Leadership Summer and Fall Conferences, and being a voice for the CHSAA student body as a whole.

The final list includes two returning State Reps and thirteen new members, comprising ten seniors, three juniors, and two sophomores.

Joslyn Bowman, Rangeview HS

Kelly Clingan, Thompson Valley HS

Bryce Davis, Central (Grand Junction) HS

Micah Frazho, Palisade HS

Jaymi Gile, Alamosa HS

Keeley Haynes, Mountain Range HS

Mohamed Ibrahim, Wiggins HS

John Keleman, Arvada West HS

Landry Longmore, Riverdale Ridge HS

Samir Mongar, Denver South HS

Melia Palaroan, Sierra HS

Charlie Riggs, Resurrection Christian School

Camden Sharkey, Liberty HS

Caroline Thompson, Lake City Community School

Mountain Vista and Arvada West took advantage of the chance to play ball as both teams kicked off their baseball seasons on Saturday.

Arvada West sophomore Yavani Tamayo (21) scored the game-winning goal in the Class 5A first-round state playoff game Thursday night at Rangeview High School. Tamayo scored with 2:38 left regulation-time to give the Wildcats the 2-1 victory. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

AURORA — A clean slate to start the Class 5A boys soccer state tournament is exactly what Arvada West needed.

A-West was trending in the wrong direction finishing out the regular season. The Wildcats went 0-1-2 — along with a “no contest” against rival Ralston Valley from a game was postponed twice and eventually cancelled because of snowstorms — in their last two weeks of the regular season.

However, the No. 12-seeded Wildcats turned things around in the opening round of the state tournament Thursday night at No. 5 Rangeview. A-West scored a 2-1 upset victory against the 5A EMAC champions to advance to the 5A state quarterfinals Saturday, April 24.

Arvada West senior Noah Kanagy (13) uses some fancy footwork to get past Rangeview defender Ismael Dembele on Thursday night. Kanagy’s goal in the 27th-minute gave the Wildcats the early lead. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“I think the boys overcame,” A-West coach Troy Gette said. “They worked hard through the midfield and our defense has been solid all season. They stuck together.”

Not only was A-West (7-1-2 record) looking for its first win since April 6 on Thursday night to open the state playoffs, the Wildcats were without the services of starting goalie Jacob Landskov and senior Kyler Tate, one of the top players in 5A Jeffco.

“We really had a lot of momentum going into the season. We won those first six games to carry that momentum. After Kyler left and we had some injuries we slowed down a bit,” A-West senior captain Noah Kanagy said. “I think this game is the turning point to getting back that momentum.”

It looked liked A-West and Rangeview were headed to overtime tied 1-1 in the final minutes of regulation-time at Rangeview High School. Sophomore Yavani Tamayo had other ideas.

“I kept looking at the time. I remember seeing there was 4 minutes left,” Tamayo said. “I thought, ‘I had to help this team out. We’ve got to go and keep pushing up.’”

Tamayo found himself on the far post unmarked with 2:38 left on the clock to punched home the eventual game-winning goal.

“I thought I was going to miss it,” Tamayo admitted. “I played it with my left foot, then it went to my right and I shot it.”

Tamayo didn’t start, but Gette subbed in the sophomore at the right time to send the Wildcats into the quarterfinals where they will be on the road again Saturday to face No. 4 Grandview (10-1).

Rangeview senior Eduardo Garcia Fonseca (6) looks for a way around Arvada West junior Dylan Richards (5) during the first half Thursday night. Garcia Fonseca scored on a penalty kick in the second half for the Raiders’ lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the Wildcats. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“He (Tamayo) just stayed composed and has a great first touch,” Gette said. “The build up to it was good. It was a great ball to him. The whole play was fantastic.”

Sophomore goalie Ethan Kerstiens was fantastic in net for A-West. It was actually Kerstiens first varsity start with Landskov missing the game. Landskov is a cast member in A-West’s spring musical “The Theory of Relativity” which had a show Thursday night.

“He was awesome,” Gette said of Kerstiens.

Kanagy — A-West’s leading scorer — gave the Wildcats the first-half lead with a goal in the 27th minute off a bad giveaway by Rangeview (10-1-1).

“We were high pressing and they made the mistake,” Kanagy said of capitalizing on the Raiders’ turnover deep in their own zone. “I picked up the ball, took a touch and put it in the top left corner.”

Rangeview tied the game on a penalty kick by senior Eduardo Garcia Fonseca in the 51st minute in the second half before Tamayo’s late minute heroics for A-West.

Despite finishing third in 5A Jeffco this season after winning back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019, A-West is the lone 5A Jeffco team remaining in the tournament with both Valor Christian and Lakewood suffering first-round losses Thursday.

“Anything can happen,” Gette said as the Wildcats prepare for the quarterfinals this weekend. “We have to figure out how to be more productive and efficient offensively, but we’ll get there.”

Arvada West sophomore Luke Schultz (14) attempts to get off a kick during the Wildcats’ upset victory Thursday night. A-West will face No. 4 Grandview on Saturday, April 24, in a Class 5A state quarterfinal game. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

These rankings are the result of the final coaches poll of the regular season. In the voting, Fairview, Battle Mountain, Colorado Academy and Crested Butte were voted No. 1 in their respective classifications.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday during the regular season.

Complete rankings for each class are below.

[divider]

CHSAANow.com Boys Soccer Polls

Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing bcochi@chsaa.org. These rankings are a part of the postseason seeding process.

Arvada West junior Owen Welch (17) tries to breakaway from Valor junior Jaden Claycamp (10) during the scoreless tie Monday at the North Area Athletic Complex. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

ARVADA — There was no winner Monday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.

Arvada West and Valor Christian ended the top-10 Class 5A boys soccer match-up in a scoreless tie after 100 minutes at the NAAC.

“Neither team could find the back of the net,” Arvada West senior goalie Jacoby Landskov said. “At the end of the day soccer is about scoring and neither one of us did.”

Valor Christian sophomore Duncan Voeglie (13) and Arvada West senior Gabe Schultz (19) battle for possession Monday during the Class 5A Jeffco League game. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

The tie between the No. 7 Wildcats and No. 9 Eagles actually helped out unranked Lakewood in the 5A Jeffco League standings. The Tigers (5-1-1, 5-1-1 in league) leaped over Valor (6-1-1, 5-1-1) and A-West (6-1-2, 4-1-2) in the conference standings.

If Lakewood gets a victory over Bear Creek on Thursday, April 15, at Lakewood Memorial Field the Tigers will claim the league title. It would be the first boys soccer league champion for Lakewood since 1995.

“It’s been a crazy season. We lost to Lakewood early so we’ve felt like since Game 2 in league we’ve been playing for our playoff lives,” Valor coach Brian Shultz said. “I would image Lakewood is pretty happy.”

Valor is currently second in 5A Jeffco. The top two teams in the league earn an automatic bid to the 16-team state tournament that begins next week with the first round on Tuesday, April 20.

“I think we are still as at No. 2 right now, but we have to take care of business against Dakota Ridge on Thursday,” Shultz said of the Eagles’ regular-season finale this week. “We won’t overlook him.”

A-West is in tougher spot. The Wildcats looked to be in-line to win a third straight conference title a week ago. A-West was undefeated and 4-0 in league play, but a 1-1 tie against Lakewood (April 8) and 2-0 loss to Chatfield (April 10), along with another tie versus Valor puts the playoffs in doubt for the Wildcats.

“Not a whole lot to say really,” Landskov said. “It is really disappointing. Both sides played great tonight. It just stinks to not come out on top and now not win in three games.”

Valor Christian sophomore Andrew Halzett gets ready to clear the ball as Eagles’ freshman goalie Dennis Polzin (0) looks on Monday at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

The Wildcats must beat rival Ralston Valley on Thursday night at the NAAC for any chance to more than likely get one of the four at-large playoff bids if A-West finishes third in the league.

“We just have to win against Ralston Valley and see what happens from there,” Landskov said. “We can’t worry about anyone else.”

Landskov was solid recording his sixth shutout in net this season.

Valor had several set pieces that gave the Eagles scoring chances. The best scoring opportunity for Valor came in the first half. Sophomore Zac Brooks deflected a corner kick that looked to beat Landskov, but A-West sophomore Josh White was in the right place on the far post to keep the ball out of the net.

A-West senior Noah Kanagy and sophomore Luke Schultz both had hard shots saved by Valor freshman goalie Dennis Polzin a minute apart in the second half.

“He (Polzin) has been fantastic all year and his strength is in the air. We are such a possession team that is what most teams try to do is put balls in the air against us,” Shultz said. “We have two other great goalies too. We are blessed that way.”

The best scoring chance in the two 10-minute overtime periods came off the foot of Valor senior Tyler Eagan, but his direct free kick was just wide left midway through the first overtime.

Arvada West sophomore Luke Schultz agonizes after his deflection off a centering pass sails high over the net in the first half Monday at the NAAC. A-West and Valor Christian finished in a 0-0 tie after 100 minutes of action. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Windsor took over the Class 4A top spot in this week’s rankings.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday during the regular season.

Complete rankings for each class are below.

[divider]

CHSAANow.com Boys Soccer Polls

Voted upon by coaches and select media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing bcochi@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

Three new teams – Regis Jesuit, Skyview and Crested Butte – jumped up to No. 1 in their respective classifications.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday during the regular season.

Complete rankings for each class are below.

[divider]

CHSAANow.com Boys Soccer Polls

Voted upon by coaches around the state. These rankings are part of the postseason seeding process.

Class 5A No. 8 Valor Christian girls volleyball improved to 2-1 on the season after a 3-0 sweep of Arvada West on Tuesday.

Boulder has taken over atop the Class 5A boys soccer coaches poll.

The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. Polls are released each Monday during the regular season.

Complete rankings for each class are below.

[divider]

CHSAANow.com Boys Soccer Polls

Voted upon by coaches around the state. These rankings are part of the postseason seeding process.