The 2014 all-state boys lacrosse teams honor the best players in the sport as judged by the leagues and coaches. They are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues and coaches, and then a vote of coaches.
Players of the year were also selected by a vote of the coaches.
The 2014 all-state girls soccer teams honor the best players in the sport as judged by the leagues and coaches. They are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues and coaches, and then a vote of coaches.
Players of the year were also selected by a vote of the coaches.
The 2014 all-state girls lacrosse teams honor the best players in the sport as judged by the leagues and coaches. They are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.
These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues and coaches, and then a vote of coaches.
Player of the year was also selected by a vote of the coaches.
COMMERCE CITY — Even a powerful storm that unloaded a few inches of hail onto the playing field at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park couldn’t deny Cheyenne Mountain’s girls soccer team a sweet repeat.
The Indians weathered the storm, a two-hour delay and a determined Broomfield squad on their way to a second consecutive Class 4A state championship. Sara Walters scored less than six minutes into the game and a stingy Cheyenne Mountain defense kept the Eagles off the board for a 2-0 victory Wednesday night.
Cheyenne Mountain (18-0-2) also defeated Broomfield by the same margin a year ago and notched its fifth-consecutive postseason shutout for the team’s fifth title in the past 17 years.
“It feels amazing. It feels amazing to be able to get this opportunity again and prove ourselves again,” Cheyenne Mountain junior goalkeeper Hunter Peifer said. “Some people made excuses that we lost some big seniors, but we came together as a team and filled those spots.”
Broomfield senior Brittney Stark (24) attempts to weave her way through Cheyenne Mountain seniors Tori Burnett (11) and Amanda Burke (23) during the first half Wednesday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss)
There was some question of whether or not the teams would even get a chance to play Wednesday. The storm and a power outage at the stadium pushed the start back, but the grounds crew was able to clear the field and get the game underway.
The 5A state championship between Ralston Valley and Columbine was postponed until 5 p.m. on Thursday.
“It definitely built up the anticipation, but we kept our minds in the game the entire time,” Walters said. “We were ready for this. We’ve been waiting for this. We knew this was our game.”
Walters broke the ice in the sixth minute of play, capitalizing on a breakdown and punching the ball into the net.
“Amanda Burke in the back had won an amazing tackle and launched it up the field, over the defenders,” Walters said. “I ran onto it and just tapped it past the goalie. I couldn’t have done it without my team at all.”
Eagles coach Jim Davidson said the quick score took a bit out of his squad.
“We just got caught on our heels a little bit in the first 10 minutes,” Davidson said. “I thought Cheyenne Mountain started on the front foot and obviously we can’t make the kind of defensive mistake that we made there. It’s hard to play from behind right away.”
Broomfield (16-2-1) had a few chances to notch the equalizer, but a combination of skill and luck went in Cheyenne Mountain’s favor. With two minutes, 27 seconds remaining in the first half, a Kerri Marquardt direct kick after a foul was pushed up and over the net by Peifer.
Then less than 10 minutes into the second half, Eagles senior Katie Forsee broke free and made a charge on Peifer. The keeper just got enough of Forsee’s shot to deflect the ball off the post.
“I looked up and I knew I couldn’t come out,” Peifer said. “Luckily I got a couple fingers on it and then the post helped me out. Live and die by the post, right? That thing’s going to be my best friend.”
The Indians prevented Broomfield from putting another shot on goal the rest of the way.
“We created chances, and a team like Cheyenne Mountain — who defends so well — those chances are probably going to be few and far between,” Davidson said. “You’ve really got to take advantage of it.”
Cheyenne Mountain senior Michelle Sandoval added an insurance goal with 1:49 to go. From there, the team’s fans began to celebrate.
“We knew we had a target on our backs from the beginning,” Walters said. “But we knew what we could do as a group and we knew that if we played how we could as a team, we would be unstoppable.”
The Indians ran their shutout streak to six games and only allowed six goals all season. Broomfield had outscored its opponents 24-1 in the playoffs but Cheyenne Mountain was up to the task when it mattered most.
“It’s the most exceptional team I’ve coached. It’s hard that it happened to this group of seniors, especially two years in a row,” Davidson said. “But Cheyenne Mountain has just a really deep program and fantastic athletes. I thought their athleticism won the day a little bit today.”
Cheyenne Mountain’s girls soccer players hoist the Class 4A state trophy in front of their fans Wednesday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The Indians defeated Broomfield 2-0 to win their second straight championship. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss)
COLORADO SPRINGS — After a shaky first round, the Cheyenne Mountain girls golf team delivered a state championship performance Tuesday at the Country Club of Colorado.
The Indians, who were in third following the first day, fired a second round 250 to beat Montrose by 15 strokes to capture their second consecutive Class 4A state title at their home course.
“We just focused and played like we were capable of (Tuesday),” said veteran Cheyenne coach Bill Paulson, whose team trailed Montrose by three strokes after the first round. “(Monday) we shot way above what we normally shoot and I think (Monday) was all about nerves and feeling the pressure of being on our own golf course.”
Cheyenne Mountain finished with a 520 total on the challenging par-72 course. The Indians were powered by Kylee Sullivan (168), Kelly Kruse (173), Samantha Weber (179) and Rachel Knobbs (208).
“It’s crazy, I can’t believe it happened again,” said Kruse, the team’s lone senior. “I’m just so thankful. It’s awesome that it happened on our home course.”
(Bethany Brookens/CHSAANow.com)
Sullivan admitted her team changed its mindset on Tuesday.
“We tried to forget (Monday) and we knew we had to fight back and win,” said Sullivan, who shot a team-best 81 Tuesday. “There was a lot of pressure on us. A lot of people think it should be easier to win on your home course, but this course wasn’t easy for anyone. It was a tough, tough course and it was a great state course. So to win her is just awesome.”
Montrose finished the tourney with rounds of 267 and 268.
Individually, Jennifer Kupcho coasted to her first state crown. The Jefferson Academy junior fired a 2-over-par 146. Valor Christian’s Andrea Ballou was second with a 160 total.
This state title was three years in the making for Kupcho, who had rounds of 72 and 74 at the Country Club of Colorado. She finished third at state as a freshman and was second a year ago.
“I had a good round Monday and I just came out and played consistent (Tuesday),” said the 5-foot-4 Kupcho, who has already verbally committed to play at Wake Forest University. “I’m really excited to be a state champion. I’m really happy.”
Last year, Kupcho was runner-up to Montrose’s Kala Keltz by two strokes.
COLORADO SPRINGS — Near state championship misses are something Jennifer Kupcho knows well.
The Jefferson Academy junior finished third at state as a freshman and was second a year ago.
On Monday, the junior made a statement in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament to try and eliminate any heartbreaking drama this year.
Kupcho fired an even-par 72 at the Country Club of Colorado course to take a commanding nine-stroke lead over her teammate Mariah Ehrman and Valor Christian’s Andrea Ballou.
“I had a good round,” said Kupcho, who had only two bogeys. “I struggled with my putting at the beginning, but I was hitting the ball very well. The greens were kind of slow and bumpy, but the rest of the course was really nice.”
The final round concludes Tuesday at the challenging Country Club of Colorado course.
Jefferson Academy’s Jennifer Kupcho. (Tracy Renck)
A year ago, Kupcho was runner-up to Montrose’s Kala Keltz by two strokes. Her freshman season she was one stroke back of Pueblo South’s Bryce Schroeder and Kathleen Kershisnik of Regis. Schroeder won state in a playoff.
“I’ve been really close to winning before and (Monday) I just went out there and played like I know how to play and I didn’t worry about anything else,” said the 5-foot-4 Kupcho, who has a career-best round of 67. “That worked out pretty well and I want to do the same thing (Tuesday).”
In team race, Montrose leads with a 267, followed by Cheyenne Mountain (270), Valor Christian (271) and Estes Park (272). Cheyenne Mountain is the defending state champion.
Although only a junior, Kupcho has already relieved herself of the stress of deciding on where to continue playing golf in college.
“I have verbally committed to Wake Forest,” said Kupcho, who is likely going to major in business. “The weather is really nice there (in Winston-Salem N.C.) and I really liked the coaches. They have a really good golf program.”
