More photos. (Tim Visser/TimVisserPhotography.com)
AURORA — Two of Colorado’s top girls soccer teams went toe-to-toe Wednesday night and the match certainly didn’t disappoint.
CHSAANow.com No. 2-ranked Columbine almost delivered No. 1 Grandview its first loss in a contest that exuded a playoff atmosphere. Almost.
After trailing 1-0 heading into halftime, the Grandview remained persistent, and that paid dividends as it led to a hard-fought 2-1 victory in extratime for the top-ranked squad in Class 5A.
For most of the game, Grandview (12-0-1 overall) seemed to be in control, particularly early on as the Wolves dominated time of possession. Fortunately for Columbine (12-1-2), great possessions from the Wolves left them empty-handed as they couldn’t find the back of the net despite having a few solid attacks.
“I told them we just have to keep playing our game and keep shooting the ball and following,” Grandview coach Tari Wood said. “We know that goalkeeper is talented, but we just had to keep shooting and keep attacking.”
As the first half came to a close, it seemed as if both teams would be content to go into half deadlocked at a 0-0 tie, but Columbine senior Kelcey Cavarra had other plans as she scored on a 25-yard free kick that snuck past Reagan McCombs’ outstretched hands in the 32nd minute.
And for Grandview, the frustration was beginning to set in.
“(It was) very frustrating, they have an amazing keeper and I really think that’s what kept them in it,” Grandview junior Jessica Hixson said. “We had some great opportunities (early on) and she had some amazing saves.”
The promising opportunities on the attack would continue in the second half for the Wolves and it wasn’t long before the they broke through after chipping away all night.
In the 69th minute, the Rebels played a ball in the box on a corner from the east end of the field which dropped in for mosh pit-like scrum as Columbine had three shots on goal within 5 yards.
However, McCombs was cat-like with her reflexes as she made multiple saves, one coming while on the ground.
Following the bevy of saves, the ball was cleared out on the west wing of the field in the direction of Wolves’ senior Mandi Duggan and from there it was a foot race as she tracked the ball down with sophomore teammate Morgan Szarka streaking down the middle for a chance to get a play on the ball. Duggan crossed it into the box on a one-hop pass allowing Szarka to put it away as she finished with contact.
After tying it up, the game again fell into a stalemate with both teams showing fatigue as the final horn of regulation sounded. Extra time was on the way.
Both teams began the overtime period a bit slow and the match seemingly felt as if it would be won by the team that didn’t make a crucial mistake. Unfortunately for the Rebels, one mental error sealed their fate.
Trying to work the ball up field, Columbine forced a pass on the east wing near the benches, allowing for Grandview’s Jessica Hixson to intercept it. Hixson then turned the steal into a near 50-yard scamper as she eluded defenders and worked the ball in the box for a strike past the Rebels’ keeper, giving her team the win.
“At first when I won the ball down here, I thought, ‘Where are my options’ and just as I kept dribbling, I saw the space and I went for it,” Hixson said. “As soon as I saw that it was just me and the keeper, I knew it was going in.”
Although it was a grinder, Grandview was somewhat thankful for this type of game as the postseason is right around the corner.
“This game prepares us greatly because now we know where we stand. After losing some great players, from last year, we know that we can still do it this year,” Hixson stated.
Columbine finishes the season at 12-1-2, while Grandview has one more game slated for Thursday where they’ll face Colorado Academy.