Arvada West girls soccer shuts out Westminster

ARVADA — Arvada West’s girls soccer team got everyone involved Monday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.

The Wildcats took a dominating 10-0 non-league victory over Westminster to start the week. A-West had seven different goal scorers.

“We’ve got a good group and a deep group,” A-West coach Dan Watkins said. “Being able to get everyone out there in the flow of the game was really important tonight. To have success from a bunch of players tonight was great.”

A-West senior Gigi Grieve scored her hat-trick in the first 16 minutes. Grieve scored the Wildcats first three goals in the opening minutes to give A-West a 3-0 lead.

“She is a dynamic player and a great leader for us,” Watkins said of one of the Wildcats’ senior captains. “She loves setting up goals as much as she likes scoring them. I think that is exactly what we need from her to be able to do both.”

Grieve said scoring that many goals in a short period of time has only happened in club games for her before. She leads A-West (4-2 record) with eight goals on the season.

“As a team we came in wanting to move the ball,” said Grieve about facing the winless Westminster squad. “We want to get better every game.”

The scoring was distributed out evenly the rest of the way. Seniors Isabella Teran, Carman Williams, along with freshman Blakely Erickson pushed the Wildcats’ lead to 6-0 at halftime.

A-West freshman Aubry Grieve put in the Wildcats’ 7th goal in the 47th minute to start the scoring in the second half. Senior Janae Marquez scored in the 62nd minute to give the Wildcats’ an 8-0 advantage. Junior Mallory Tyson added a goal on a direct-free kick in the 66th minute.

Teran put in her second goal of the night in the 68th minute to end the game due to the 10-goal mercy rule.

A-West has had a few good tests already this season. The Wildcats had a tough 2-1 loss to Boulder and suffered a 2-0 defeat to defending Class 5A state champion Mountain Vista last week at NAAC.

“Those were tough games, but I think as a team we held together strong,” Grieve said of the losses to Boulder and Mountain Vista. “One thing I love about this team is no one ever bickers at one another. We always stay positive through the tough games and in games like this one.”

The Wildcats head to Colorado Springs on Thursday, April 3, to face Doherty. A-West has one more non-league game against Brighton next week before diving into Class 5A Jeffco League play. 

“That is really important. In year two it is a little easier for me personally,” Watkins said A-West’s team chemistry in his second year at the helm of A-West’s girls soccer program. “To get a group that is excited to be together. The trip on Thursday will be a great opportunity to continue that work.”

A-West opens conference play at Valor Christian on April 10.

“It is defintely a motivator for us,” Grieve said of trying to prevent rival Ralston Valley from repeating as 5A Jeffco League champs. “It’s a tough league. We believe in ourselves and we know we can get there.”