Ralston Valley boys soccer breezes to shutout win over Valor

ARVADA — No harm in getting used to what Mother Nature might throw your way on the soccer pitch during the playoffs.

Ralston Valley and Valor Christian boys soccer teams battled sustained winds in the mid-30 mph range and gusts in the mid-40s at the North Area Athletic Complex on Monday night. 

“The weather has been great this year, but it’s good to play in this kind of wind before playoffs,” Ralston Valley senior Cooper Hineline said. “We played in the wind and got the win.”

The Mustangs weathered the elements to take a 3-0 victory over Valor. Hineline picked up his third hat-trick of the season scoring all three goals.

Ralston Valley coach John Doody said he was once at a coaching seminar and a psychologist for the U.S. National Team spoke. The psychologist said the best thing for a team is to play in super difficult conditions because it test teams.

“I thought we dealt well with it,” Doody said of playing in the tough conditions at NAAC. 

The Mustangs (9-3-2 record) had already wrapped up the Class 5A Jeffco League title last week, but had two more tune-up games with a mini-Jeffco Tournament on Monday and Thursday, Oct 24, this week.

“This will hopefully bump us up and then hopefully a win Thursday will be big in terms of seeding,” Hineline said. “Hopefully we’ll get a good seed.”

The Mustangs will host Columbine (13-1) on Thursday, Oct. 24, back at the NAAC in the final tune-up before the 32-team state tournament begins next week. 

Ralston Valley was No. 9 in the CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index before the win Monday. Columbine was No. 7 before its 2-0 victory over Arvada West on Monday at Lakewood Memorial Field set up a rematch against the Mustangs and Rebels.

Ralston Valley edged Columbine 1-0 on Oct. 17 to repeat as 5A Jeffco League champions.

“It defintely feels like the last two years,” Hineline said of the Mustangs’ run to the 2022 semifinals and 2023 quarterfinals. “We’ve been consistent through the last few games of the regular season and build toward the playoffs. I think we’ll make a good run at it again.”

The Mustangs and Eagles ended in a 1-1 draw in their conference meeting back on Oct. 10 at Valor Christian. It was the only league blemish for Ralston Valley.

Hineline did all the scoring for the Mustangs on Monday night. The forward put in the lone goal in the first half converting on a Valor turnover in the 3rd minute.

He converted on a penalty kick in the 58th minute to make it a 2-0 lead for the Mustangs. Seconds later he scored his third goal on the night.

“I think Cooper Hineline is the greatest player that has ever come out of Jeffco,” Doody said after the senior posted his 43, 44 and 45 career goals Monday. “There are some great players that have come out of Jeffco, but in these last 15 to 20 years I truly believe he is the best player that has come out of Jeffco.”

Doody’s son played in Jeffco during the late 1990s. Doody coached in Jeffco prior to that before and took over the head coaching job at Ralston Valley a year ago.

“He isn’t everything. He isn’t the only thing,” Doody said of Hineline. “But the reality is, he is a big as a difference maker there is in the state.” 

Doody believes Ralston Valley would have to win Thursday to have a chance to grab a top-8 seed and have the opportunity to host the first- and second-round matches. 

“I didn’t do too well last year with the No. 2 seed,” Doody said of Ralston Valley getting upset by No. 7 Broomfield, eventual state champion, in the quarterfinals a year ago. “I don’t want to overthink this. We would love to host twice (at NAAC).”