Cheyenne Mountain girls soccer beat No. 1 The Classical Academy on Tuesday. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
COLORADO SPRINGS — Lauren Jones had plenty of good chances to help Cheyenne Mountain score goals.
So it was only fitting that the one that connected was a desperation kick that dribbled by TCA keeper RaeAnn Queener in extra time. That golden goal lifted the Indians over the Titans 2-1 Tuesday night.
It was the first win on the year for the Cheyenne Mountain, who fell to No. 4 in the CHSAANow.com girls soccer rankings after dropping their first two games of the year. What’s more impressive, though, is that the win came over the same Titans team that replaced them at the top of the Class 4A poll.
“This was extremely important for us,” Jones said. “We have six freshmen on the team so we’re kind of recreating ourselves, so coming out and winning against TCA was great. It shows us that we can really play together.”
If there were any nerves from Cheyenne Mountain coach Tomas Martinez, he wouldn’t let it show. While not happy about dropping the first two games of the season, Martinez noted that the did not have a full squad but his team still played good enough to win.
It was an encouraging sign as Tuesday night was the first time the Indians took to their home field to be able to gain the lead, give up a tying goal and still come away with the win in extra time.
TCA’s Aleesa Muir (10) tries to dribble around Cheyenne Mountain’s Lauren Jones (19) in the first half of the Indians’ 2-1 win. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
“It was a huge test of character,” Martinez said. “But we never in doubt with the girls as far as their character and how hard they’ve been woring.
The Indians were pressing on the attack early with Jones doing everything she could to create opportunities for her team. In the 19th minute she had a decent look at a crossing pass, but had it deflected. Four minutes later, she had a look at a breakaway, but the Titans shut off any chance for it to develop.
But as well as the Titans defended, it turned out to be a goaltender error that would doom them. Queener couldn’t grab the ball as it bounced off her hands. The loose ball bounced around in front of the Titans net before freshman Carly Fetters got a foot on it, putting her team ahead 1-0.
“We felt like we were going to come out on top there, but we had to keep working,” Fetters said. “We had to keep playing like it was 0-0.”
In the second half, the Titans came out as a team in desperate need of offense. And when that’s the case, it helps to have a player like Hannah Burgo.
The junior forward let loose of a rocket of a shot from the right side, but Indians keeper Amanda Beach stoned it with ease. So if Burgo couldn’t go through her, she was going to have to try and go over her.
Burgo was able to sneak behind the Cheyenne Mountain defense and was able to chip the ball over Beach’s head, but it also went over the net.
They finally caught their break as the Indians were called for a foul in the box, giving the Titans a penalty kick and a chance to tie the game. Aleesa Muir was able to put in the shot past Beach to tie the game.
“I have a handful of girls that I can pick (in that situation),” TCA coach Blake Galvin said. “Her being a lefty, she’s one that’s going to be at the top of the list for sure.”
But as Jones was able to connect on the game winner in the second overtime, the Titans were dealt a loss at the hands of the defending 4A champions.
A loss is never ideal, but it is a game that Galvin feels his team can use to get better as the season goes on.
“There’s no question about that,” he said. “That’s kind of the way we look at every game for these first 15 anyway. It’s all about learning and getting better and improving.”