5A girls soccer semifinals: Grandview and Broomfield will vie for the title
PARKER — Stellar shots from Grandview’s Natalie Beckman and Lauren Juul in the second half Saturday afternoon were enough to defeat No. 5 Mountain Vista 4-2 and send the Wolves to the Class 5A girls soccer championship game.
“I’m feeling happy and tired,” said Beckman. “This weather is not very fun and the first half we were going into the wind and the rain, but we pushed through it and took care of business.”
Despite the rain and wind, Beckman came in big time for her team on Saturday, after her shot tied the game at 2-2 early in the second half for the top-seeded Wolves. The University of Denver recruit fired a rocket from 30 yards out that found the back of the net and provided Grandview with the momentum that would carry through the rest of the game.
“I was really debating on whether I should put it on the back post or shoot it on frame,” Beckman said. “Finally, I was just like, I’m going to shoot it on frame and hope for the best, and when I made it, I was surprised as anyone.”
With 30:16 left in regulation, Grandview (16-3) took the lead after an errant corner kick was passed by Lauren Holleran and volleyed in by Lauren Juul. Not long after, Tori Parker redirected Lauren Juul cross just inside the post to give Grandview a safe lead of two goals.
Even with the two-goal deficit, last year’s state champs, Mountain Vista (14-4-1) put a lot of pressure on Grandview’s defense throughout the game. But Grandview wasn’t going to lose to No. 5 Mountain Vista again this year, and their three-goal second half was just the trick to get the job done.
“This is the best team chemistry we’ve had in a long time,” said Beckman. “I’m just so excited that we are getting the chance to be back at State and compete for that title.”
(2) Broomfield 3, (3) Rock Canyon 2
In a hard-fought battle, defense and penalty kicks took center stage.
No. 2 Broomfield took a 3-2 victory over No. 3 Rock Canyon at Echo Park in the second 5A girls soccer state semifinal. The Eagles (17-1) now face Grandview in the championship game Wednesday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
With only 37 seconds left in the first half, Broomfield was given a foul and Rock Canyon’s senior Jamie Tatum was given a penalty kick. She saw the door of opportunity open and went right for it and shot a dagger that gave the Jaguars a lead of 1-0 going into halftime.
With only 10 minutes left in regulation, Broomfield’s Gia Lemley came up big with a goal that tied the game up at 1-1. Not to long after, it was Broomfield who took the lead with a goal from Haley Stodden on a penalty kick with 2:35 left.
A minute later, Rock Canyon answered with a goal that sent the game into overtime.
Halfway through overtime, another penalty kick was awarded to Broomfield and just as Tatum took her opportunity, Stodden didn’t waste her shot and came in clutch again and punched a one-way ticket to the state championship game.
After losing in the semifinals in last season’s tournament to Arapahoe, this trip to the state championship game is the icing on the cake for Broomfield.
