Glover shines as Cherry Creek tops Arapahoe in 5A girls soccer quarterfinals

Benjamin Parris/Cherry Creek High School

GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Any coach can admit that the key to winning any game is often a quick start, and in the playoffs, a quick start is even more important. Cherry Creek girls soccer got off to a quicker than quick start on its way to a 5-2 win over Arapahoe in the Class 5A girls soccer quarterfinals.

Just 53 seconds into the game at the Stutler Bowl, Senior forward Kelly Francis got on the scoresheet. Less than 5 minutes later, Cherry Creek extended their lead over Arapahoe to 3-0 after Junior Alyssa Glover put a shot into the back of the Warriors’ net, followed by a pass off her foot directly onto the head of Masen Frey, giving Glover an assist. By the time the first half was halfway over, Cherry Creek had a commanding 5-1 lead.

BRUINS GOAL!!

This header from Addie Follet came right to Kelly Francis, over the head of the Arapahoe goalkeeper to give Cherry Creek the 1-0 lead #copreps pic.twitter.com/nB8oAdsRfw

— Ben Parris (@BenParris04) June 19, 2021

“We talked about coming out quick, we talked about that all week long,” Cherry Creek coach David Gamelin said. “You never expect to score five goals in 20 minutes; that’s not what I expected, but I did expect us to come out hard.”

At halftime, the score was 5-2 after Arapahoe’s Paige Foa scored with under 10 minutes to go in the half, but as the teams came out for second, there was no more goals to be found as that score was the game’s final.

For Cherry Creek, Friday’s win advances them to their first semifinal game since 2012. Ending the 9-year drought, “Was really a team effort,” Alyssa Glover said. “We all worked so hard all season… It’s a great feeling to be able to push for a State Championship.”

Next up for No. 3 Cherry Creek is No. 2 Broomfield who scored late against Mountain Vista on Friday night to win their quarterfinal match 2-1. The Bruins and Eagles will meet at Englewood High School on Wednesday, June 23rd, for the opportunity to play in the state championship next weekend.