Grandview finishes No. 1 in MaxPreps’ spring girls soccer rankings
Grandview girls soccer has finished as the top team in MaxPreps’ national rankings for the spring 2015 season.
Though MaxPreps doesn’t officially recognize a national champion in the sport, it in effect means the Wolves were the best team nationally during the spring, as judged by the ranking system. (Some states play girls soccer in the fall, and others in the winter. The three rankings do not cross over. Noting that some states have multiple sanctioning entities, 22 states play spring soccer, seven play in the winter, and 31 in the fall.)
The Wolves won the Class 5A championship in May, and went 18-1-1 this season. Last week, Tari Wood was named 5A coach of the year, and five players made the all-state team.
Grandview didn’t play out of state in 2015, but their high rating is based upon the fact that a number of Colorado teams were rated highly by the MaxPreps ranking. Three teams were ranked in the top six nationally, including No. 4 ThunderRidge and No. 6 Mountain Vista. Grandview beat both teams during the season.
Also among Grandview’s wins: No. 35 Colorado Academy, No. 38 Broomfield, No. 55 Cherry Creek and No. 70 Cherokee Trail.
The MaxPreps system takes winning percentage as well as a strength-of-schedule factor into account to determine a team’s rating. The final ranking was released on June 5.
Last season, Colorado’s top-ranked team was Cheyenne Mountain, the 4A champion, at No. 20. Columbine, the 2014 5A champ, was No. 68.
Cheyenne Mountain won a third-straight 4A championship this season, and is No. 44 nationally in 2015.
In December, Lewis-Palmer was recognized as the national volleyball champion by MaxPreps.
Colorado teams in MaxPreps top 100 nationally
1. Grandview (5A)
4. ThunderRidge (5A)
6. Mountain Vista (5A)
35. Colorado Academy (3A)
38. Broomfield (5A)
44. Cheyenne Mountain (4A)
48. Pine Creek (5A)
51. Lewis-Palmer (4A)
55. Cherry Creek (5A)
56. Evergreen (4A)
70. Cherokee Trail (5A)
