Columbine’s Amanda Porter (13) attempts to turn the corner against Fort Collins junior Evan Fischer. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LAKEWOOD — No. 9-seeded and Class 5A Jeffco League champion Columbine is moving into the second round of the 5A girls soccer state tournament.
The Rebels’ top scorers came to play in the postseason opener against No. 24 Fort Collins on Tuesday at Lakewood Memorial Field. Senior Amanda Porter put in a pair of goals and sophomore Tessa Barton added another in the Columbine’s 3-0 shutout victory.
Senior Skylar Alward had a brilliant assist on Porter’s first goal and drew a penalty kick in the 50th minute that resulted in Porter hammering home her second goal and the final goal of the game.
“Our big players stepped up today,” Columbine coach Brian Todd said. “Amanda played great. Skylar played great. Tessa played great. Kaitlyn Weiser played great. We played some good soccer at times and just have to keep it going.”
The Rebels (12-4 record) dominated possession against Fort Collins (8-7) in the opening round of the state tournament, but Columbine couldn’t find the back of the net until the 33rd minute. Alward and Porter both had great chances that just couldn’t find the mark early on.
Columbine’s Nicole Sarconi (5) and Fort Collins’ Jordan Falsetto (10) battle. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“It’s definitely frustrating when you don’t finish those, but we put some away and that gave us that nice little lead to finish the game,” Porter said.
Columbine had a slim 1-0 lead at halftime, but Barton scored just 100 seconds into the second half to push the lead to 2-0. The sophomore fired a low shot to the near post that beat Fort Collins freshman goalie Samantha Hoodak.
Porter’s penalty kick extended the lead to 3-0. Porter nearly picked up the hat-trick with three goals, but her rebound attempt in the 59th minute was just steered wide by Hoodak.
The only downer for Columbine in the second half was when Alward was injured going up for a header. Her face it the back of the head of a Fort Collins player and Alward suffered a cut on the bridge of her nose. She left the field early to have the cut treated at the hospital, according to Todd.
Amanda Porter (facing) and Skylar Alward celebrate Columbine’s first goal Tuesday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“I know she (Alward) is a very tough player. She will be back on the field and be ready to play on Friday,” Columbine junior goalie Madeline Samuelson said.
Samuelson picked up her ninth shutout victory in net of the season.
Columbine will face No. 8 Broomfield on the road in the second round Friday. The Eagles defeated No. 25 Chatfield 3-1 on Tuesday night.
“We’ll come out and play our hardest to try to get into the quarters,” Porter said.
The four-time defending 5A Jeffco League champions advanced to the state semifinals last year before losing to Mountain Vista. Broomfield actually had a strong tournament last year making it all the way to the semifinals too at the No. 12 seed before bowing out to eventual state champion Grandview.
“We’ll go up to Broomfield and put our best effort together,” Todd said.
Columbine’s Tessa Barton (2) attempts to beat Fort Collins sophomore Madi Vigil (14) as the Rebels’ bench watches. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)