Chatfield vaults atop 5A Jeffco girls soccer standings

LAKEWOOD — A little overtime work Tuesday night at Lakewood Memorial Field paid off big time for Chatfield’s girls soccer team.

A goal in the 96th minute of the second-overtime period by junior Ava Erickson gave Chatfield a 2-1 victory over Ralston Valley and sole possession of first place in the Class 5A Jeffco League girls soccer standings. 

“I had a couple of volleys right there at the end,” Erickson said of her back-to-back scoring changes in close late in the second-overtime period. “I just kicked and it went in.”

The victory moved Chatfield (6-4, 3-0 in league) ahead Ralston Valley (7-4, 2-1) and Valor Christian (5-1-2, 2-0-1) in the conference standings with four league games remaining.

Valor had its first conference blemish with a 2-2 tie against Arvada West (6-2-1, 1-1-1) on Tuesday night up at the North Area Athletic Complex.

“For however long it lasts we’ll enjoy it,” Chatfield coach Brock Blume said of moving into first place alone in the conference standings. “I feel like we are finding our identity. There is nothing better than testing that identity when you are playing a quality opponent like Ralston Valley. They are always a tough game for us. It was really cool to see us rise to the occasion.”

After a scoreless first half, it looked like Chatfield would score first when the Chargers were awarded a penalty kick in the 54th minute. Junior Hannah Anderson took the PK, but Ralston Valley junior goalie Margot Mulhern made a diving save to her left to keep the game scoreless.

“When a goalie keep rises to the occasion you have to bounce back,” Blume said of saved by Mulhern on the penalty kick. “Tonight was all about bouncing back.”

Seconds later, Chatfield did score on a brilliant corner kick by junior Jayden Heil. The left-footed strike bent into the goal for a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute.

“At the beginning of the season we had a rough time responding. We often would get down,” Erickson said. “I feel these last couple games we’ve really figured out how to respond. When things happen you just have to keep going.”

Ralston Valley — No. 9 in the CHSAANow.com 5A rankings — tied things up 1-1 in the 59th minute. Sophomore Raleigh Greason scored her team-leading 14 goal of the season with a laser shot that got past Chatfield junior goalie Alyssa Green.

Greason nearly gave the Mustangs their first lead, but her shot in the 74th minute hit the crossbar and was cleared by the Chargers.

Ralston Valley has caught fire as of late. The Mustangs dropped 3 of 4 games before starting their conference schedule, but had reeled off four straight victory in outscoring their opponents 20-1 heading into Tuesday’s game against Chatfield.

Ralston Valley has another huge league game when it hosts No. 4 Valor Christian at 5 p.m. Friday, April 21, at the North Area Athletic Complex.

Chatfield is attempting to win its first girls soccer league title since 2019.

“Right now the focus is the next game against Pomona on Thursday,” Blume said. “We can’t be looking ahead.”

Chatfield finishes out the week on Thursday, April 20, out at the NAAC. The Chargers will face Pomona with a 5 p.m. start.

“We still have to keep climbing,” Erickson said of the Chargers controlling its own destiny in the league title race. “We can’t get complacent for sure.”