Columbine junior Tatum Barton (10) fires a shot on goal as Ralston Valley seniors Leesa Rockhold (15) and Kasee Horton (16) chase after the Rebels’ leading scorer in the second half Tuesday at Lakewood Memorial Field. Barton scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 75th minute to give the Rebels a 2-1 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)
LAKEWOOD — While a Class 5A girls soccer state title wasn’t on the line Tuesday at Lakewood Memorial Field, a conference driver’s seat was at stake.
In a rematch of last year’s 5A championship game, 5A Jeffco foes Columbine and Ralston Valley clashed for the first time since the Rebels took a 3-1 victory over the Mustangs at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park nearly a year ago. The end result was nearly identical to last year’s title game.
Columbine overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit with goals by juniors Chloe Chapman (62nd minute) and Tatum Barton (75th minute) to capture a 2-1 victory.
Ralston Valley sophomore Jenna Giambrocco, right, and Columbine senior Kelsey Clark, left, go after a bouncing ball Tuesday at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)
“We knew today would be a tight game and could go either way. Both teams are super-talented. Neither of us is in a lull or rebuilding,” Columbine coach Brian Todd said. “We thought this match could go a long way in deciding the 5A Jeffco title.”
The Rebels (7-2, 3-0 in league) took over sole possession of the conference lead with the victory over the Mustangs (6-2-1, 2-1).
“This was the game to win,” Barton said. “This was probably for league if everything goes as expected.”
As anticipated, last year’s 5A player of the year had a key role. Barton admitted she was frustrated in the first half with Ralston Valley controlling possession, limiting Barton’s touches up top for the Rebels.
Ralston Valley grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute with a shot just outside the 18-yard box by junior Alyssa Kaiser that sailed over Columbine goalie Sarah Luebking and into the back of the net.
However, just like their last meeting, Columbine made the halftime adjustments needed to erase the deficit. Chapman got the game-tying goal on a long shot that was just out of reach of Ralston Valley goalie Renee Roemer midway through the second half.
“We are dead in the water until we equalized the game. I knew if could do that the game would drastically change,” Todd said. “The goal really sparked everything and got us going for sure.”
Barton scored the eventual game-winning goal off one of her signature turn and fires with her left foot from about 20 yards out. The junior scored her 10th goal of the season on a laser shot into the top left-hand corner of the net.
“I was going to hit it as hard as I could and see what happens,” Barton said.
Columbine senior Kelsey Clark (5) and Ralston Valley junior Alaina Snedden (7) colide during the first half Tuesday at Lakewood Memorial Field. The Rebels won a rematch of last year’s Class 5A girls soccer state championship game with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory. (Dennis Pleuss)
The goal with five minutes to go in regulation time held up to run the Rebels’ winning streak to four games.
“What a world class finish. She (Barton) can hit the ball like that with both feet,” Todd said. “Anyone who can have a finisher up top who can score the way she does it makes you pretty fortunate as a team. We are lucky to have her.”
The loss ended a three-game winning streak for Ralston Valley.
“It’s a turning point for us,” Ralston Valley coach Kamee Morwood said. “Do you let this ruin the rest of your season because you really wanted to beat the team that knocked you out last year or do you come back and pick your heads up? It definitely hurts, but it’s not the end.”
The Rebels and Mustangs just sit outside this week’s CHSAANow.com 5A girls soccer poll’s top-10. Rankings and seeding didn’t matter much last year as both Columbine and Ralston Valley advanced to the championship game as a No. 8 and No. 10 seed, respectively.
“We had our chances,” Morwood said. “I feel like we need to put together a full 80 minutes to beat these top teams. We didn’t do it tonight.”
Ralston Valley returns to the pitch 5 p.m. Thursday against rival Pomona at the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada. Columbine faces chief rival Chatfield at 7 p.m. Thursday back at Lakewood Memorial Field.
Columbine junior Tatum Barton (10) tries to settle a ball down to her feet as Ralston Valley senior Leese Rockhold (15) defends. Barton scored her 10th goal of the season in the Rebels’ 2-1 win. (Dennis Pleuss)
Columbine freshman Nikoletta Apergis, left, and Ralston Valley sophomore Sarah Bevington, right, both go up for a header on a corner kick during the second half Tuesday at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)