LAKEWOOD — Wheat Ridge girls soccer kept any hope of winning the Class 4A Jeffco League title alive Wednesday night at Lakewood Memorial Field.
The Farmers, ranked No. 8 in the latest CHSAANow.com 4A girls soccer poll, ended a 2-game conference losing streak with a 4-1 victory over rival Golden.
“We were really ready to get back on the right side of things, get some momentum going forward,” Wheat Ridge coach Dan Watkins said. “We knew it was going to be a battle. We knew Golden would give us all we could handle.”
Wheat Ridge senior Eryn Dominguez (2) and Golden junior Gracie Guerra (16) get tangled up in the first half Wednesday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but high winds that swept through Colorado postponed all Jeffco Public Schools’ athletic events at stadiums yesterday.
Wheat Ridge (7-3, 2-2 in league) didn’t waste much time to get on the scoreboard. Freshman Jessica Brummett was pulled down in Golden’s goal box in the fifth minute to award a penalty shot for the Farmers. Senior Melissa Browne converted beating Golden sophomore goalie Katie Hageman.
Golden (3-7, 0-3) answered with a goal from junior Gracie Guerra in the 14th minute to tie things up at 1-1. Wheat Ridge regained the lead for good with a goal by senior Kyra Midroy off an assist from senior Macie Browne in the 24th minute.
“I feel like we needed just one win to pick up our energy,” Midroy said. “We got kind of in a funk. I think we’re out of it now.”
Wheat Ridge’s consecutive 1-goal league losses to No. 10 Standley Lake and Evergreen last week sank the Farmers into the middle of the pack in the most competitive conference in 4A. Valor Christian, D’Evelyn, Wheat Ridge and Standley Lake are all ranked in the top-10, while Evergreen and Littleton are just outside the top-10.
“We definitely want to stay right in the mix,” Watkins said of the conference title. “We feel if we are in the top part of Jeffco we can play with anybody. Staying up in the top-half of the league is important right now.”
Wheat Ridge junior Molly Kratzer scored twice, three minutes apart early in the second half to push the Farmers’ lead to 4-1.
Wheat Ridge’s Macie Browne (3) and Krya Midroy (8) combined on the Farmers’ eventual game-winning goal against Golden. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The one disappointment for Wheat Ridge was Melissa Browne picked up a red card in the 45th minute to put the Farmers down a player for the remainder of the game. She will also have to miss Wheat Ridge’s league road game against Littleton on Friday, April 20.
“She (Melissa Browne) is a leader on this team and a leader of this program. She will help us be ready on Friday night,” Watkins said. “Just like any other situation where a player is out someone has the opportunity to step up.”
Despite the two conference losses, the Farmers still have enough time and games to win a third 4A Jeffco championship over five years. Wheat Ridge won conference titles in 2016 and 2014.
Watkins hopes the Farmers’ league finale at No. 4 Valor (5-0-3, 3-0-1) on April 30 will have a baring on the conference title.
Golden (3-7, 0-3) has fallen into a spoiler’s role when it comes to the league title. The young Demons have conference games ahead against Standley Lake, Valor, Evergreen and Littleton.
With the tough schedule, Golden could earn some critical RPI points to grab one of the 17 RPI bids to the 32-team 4A state tournament.
Wheat Ridge girls soccer stayed in the hunt for the Class 4A Jeffco League title Wednesday night with a 4-1 victory over Golden. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)