Columbine wins all-Jeffco 5A girls soccer 2nd round playoff game

LAKEWOOD — In soccer, sometimes all it takes is one.

No. 11-seeded Columbine got that one goal to advance to the Class 5A girls soccer state tournament quarterfinals. The Rebels took a 1-0 victory over rival Chatfield on Friday night at Lakewood Memorial Field.

Columbine senior Avery Bostwick scored the lone goal of the match in the 50th minute on a low shot to the far post that hit the inside of the post and ended up in the back of the net.

“I just had been having so many chances, but hadn’t found the back of the net,” Bostwick said of her game-winning goal. “I just cut a few times and shot. It went in. It was great.”

It was Bostwick’s eighth goal of the season.

“She (Bostwick) was very active today. She created a bunch of scoring chances for us in the first half,” Columbine coach Brian Todd said of the Rebels’ leading goal scorer this season. “As you saw on the goal, all she needs in an inch. All year she has been big-time in big-time moments.”

Columbine dominated possession and scoring chances in the first half, but Chatfield’s defense that has given up only 15 goals in 16 games this season held strong. The Rebels and Chargers ended in a scoreless draw during 5A Jeffco League play, so it took 130 minutes of action between the two teams in the two meetings before someone finally scored.

“We found the one to convert and that is all that matters in the playoffs,” Todd said of the Rebels scoring the lone goal in 160 minutes of game time in the two match-ups against Chatfield this season. 

The No. 27-seeded Chargers (6-8-3 record) were coming off the biggest upset victory of the first round of the state tournament. Chatfield defeated No. 6 Legacy 2-0 in a game that played just 18 minutes on Tuesday, May 5, before it was postponed due to the weather and playing conditions. The game was finished up Thursday, May 7.

“That’s a double-edged sword. These rivalry games are always tough,” Todd said of having a second-round home game, but facing Chatfield. “So many good battles over the years. Even this year with us going 0-0 against them. (Chatfield coach Glen Goodner) is doing a great job with his program. They are very organized and very good defensively.”

Chatfield did have one of the better scoring chances in the second half. Senior Tyler Sternberg got off a clean shot, but Columbine senior goalie Ella Rieben made the save in the 60th minute. 

“The message at halftime was, ‘You guys are dominating this match.’ We just need that first goal,” Todd said. “We had them on the ropes that first half. We probably could have scored a couple of goals, but their goalkeeper (freshman Luci Remley) was good again today. They defended really good.”

The shutout victory was the 8th shutout Columbine (10-2-4) had recorded this season.

“Chatfield is always a hard competitor being a cross-town rival,” Bostwick said. “We knew we could score and we knew we just needed one goal to set the momentum.”

The Chargers will have plenty to build on for next year with a fairly young squad that got a taste of postseason success. Columbine moves onto the quarterfinals where it will face the winner of No. 14 Erie/No. 3 Castle View that played at 7:30 p.m. Friday night.

“I think anything can happen,” Bostwick said as the Rebels move into the quarterfinals next week. “Obviously, Chatfield beating Legacy was an upset. This is the furthest we’ve gone in my previous three years. I’m excited to see how it turns out.”

The quarterfinals will be played Monday, May 11, at two sites — Englewood High School and Highlands Ranch Stadium at Redstone.

“We aren’t afraid of anybody,” Todd said as the Rebels and Jeffco rival Ralston Valley were the first two 5A teams to punch their tickets to the quarterfinals. “I think we are a respected group. I think 5A is wide-open and there is a lot of parody. I think all eight of the teams that will make the quarterfinals have a legitimate chance to make a run and contend for a state title.”