ARVADA — It was a little bit of disappointment for Chatfield and Ralston Valley girls soccer programs to open up the Class 5A Jeffco League season Wednesday night.
In the CHSAANow.com 5A girls soccer top-10 showdown, No. 10 Chatfield and No. 9 Ralston Valley finished in a scoreless tie after 100 minutes on the pitch at the North Area Athletic Complex.
Chatfield freshman Kyra Goudzwaard (20) and Ralston Valley senior Jenna Bishop (9) race after the ball during the eventual scoreless tie Wednesday night at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“It’s super, super, super frustrating. I had one that I should have had,” Ralston Valley senior Brooklyn Garrido said of her breakaway shot in the 78th minute that just sailed over the cross bar. “I couldn’t have taken another touch. The goalie was coming out at me. I missed it by this much.”
Chatfield (4-1-1, 0-0-1 in league) had its scoring chances late too. Sophomore Kylee Delany and junior Kylie Wells both had shots that just missed their targets during the two 10-minute overtime periods.
“Nobody was able to break that seal even thou a lot of us had chances,” Chatfield coach Brock Blume said. “It comes down the execution when you are tired and gassed.”
In the end, Chatfield junior goalie Abby Wilkinson and Ralston Valley sophomore goalie Lilly VanAlsburg both picked up shutouts in net.
“Both teams went offensive instead of going for the tie. Both of us wanted this win tonight,” Ralston Valley coach Kamee Morwood said of the numerous scoring chances. “Usually when you miss so many opportunities the other team will get you.”
Chatfield junior Emma Longbrake (17) gets her head on the ball between Ralston Valley’s Jenna Bishop (9) and Makayla Keith (16) during the Class 5A Jeffco League opener at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Ralston Valley (2-1-1, 0-0-1) has played a tough non-league schedule with wins over Liberty and Rocky Mountain. The Mustangs’ lone loss so far was to No. 2 Arapahoe.
“I like to have our girls see this level of competition with two top-10 teams,” Morwood said of playing another top-10 ranked team out of the gate in conference play. “Our level of competition so far this season has been really high. We keep hanging in there.”
Ralston Valley steps away from league play to face Standley Lake in a non-league game at 5 p.m. Friday, April 5, at NAAC. The Mustangs return to conference play against rival Arvada West at 7 p.m. Monday, April 8, at NAAC.
“I don’t think this hurts us in anyway,” Garrido said of the tie. “I think we can build from this.”
Blume admitted he was disappointed with the tie just with the amount of close scoring chances his Chargers had, but starting off league with a tough game was good.
“We always know it’s going to be a battle,” Blume said of facing the Mustangs’ in the league opener. “Ralston Valley is one of the perennial contenders for the league.”
The Chargers next head to Lakewood Memorial Field for a conference game against Bear Creek at 7 p.m. Monday, April 8.
Chatfield senior Rylee Mullen (15) chases down Ralston Valley senior Jenna Bishop (9) during the first half Wednesday at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)