South Jeffco rivalry on the soccer pitch ends in draw

LAKEWOOD — The race for the Class 5A Jeffco League girls soccer title got a little tighter Tuesday night. 

In a driving rainstorm at Lakewood Memorial Field, conference-leading Chatfield suffered its first blemish with a 1-1 double-overtime draw against cross-town rival Columbine.

“It was a super-fun game. A great rivalry game,” Columbine freshman Tyler Sternberg said. “I think the weather wasn’t a problem. It was a good challenge for us.”

Sternberg nearly gave the Rebels — No. 8 in the CHSAANow.com rankings — the victory in the second 10-minute overtime. Sternberg fired a low shot on Chatfield junior goalie Anna Snodgrass, but the post got in the way.

“I really that it was going in. It was right at the corner,” Sternberg said of her shot in the second overtime period that squarely hit the post and was cleared by Chatfield. 

Senior Andrea Iljkic and junior Olivia Ashbook both had solid shots on goal in overtime that Snodgrass was able to save. It was actually the first goalkeeping duties of the season for Snodgrass. Chatfield’s starting goalie junior Alyssa Green had to leave the game in the first half.

“She (Green) got a knock on the head in the first half and tried to battle through hit,” Chatfield coach Brock Blume said. “It didn’t work out. It wasn’t safe.”

Ashbook gave the Rebels (8-2-1, 2-2-1 in 5A Jeffco League) a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute. However, Chatfield junior Ava Erickson answered with the game-tying goal just before halftime in the 37th minute.

“Honestly, we came off a little bit off on the wrong foot when it came to the conditions,” Blume said. “We were playing a little too cute and controlled. Columbine was more interested in playing direct early. When we adjusted to that I thought we were the stronger team.”

Columbine has gotten back on track after dropping its first two conference games against Arvada West and Ralston Valley. The Rebels finish out the week with a big league game at No. 5 Valor Christian (5-1-3, 2-0-2). 

“I’m excited for the rest of the season,” Sternberg said. “I just hope we can play our hearts out and hopefully make it into playoffs.”

The Rebels could actually do a big favor for their chief rival Chargers. Chatfield (7-4-1, 4-0-1) has 13 league points when it comes to the conference standings. Valor had 8 points, but has two more league games remaining versus Pomona and Columbine on Thursday before hosting Chatfield on May 2 next week.

Chatfield has the inside track, but that league finale at Valor on Tuesday could determine the league title.

“We have to take care of business back here on Friday,” Blume said of the upcoming game against Lakewood on April 28 back at Lakewood Memorial. “We aren’t looking ahead. Any team can beat any team right now.”

Blume said he wasn’t disappointed in the first blemish on the Chargers’ league slate.

“A tie still keeps us alive in league (title) and that is important to us,” Blume said.