Lewis-Palmer's Brianna Alger, right, has the Rangers atop the Class 4A girls soccer rankings. The junior has totaled 56 points this season (23 goals, 10 assists).
File photo by Paul DiSalvo
Numbers don't necessarily mean everything in the world of sports, but sometimes they can add up and lead to plenty of success.
Two years ago when Columbine's girls soccer team captured the Class 5A state title, the Rebels had three players finish the season with more than 30 points scored. All three were underclassmen.
Fast forward two seasons, and No. 2
Columbine (Littleton) is getting similar production from that same trio, in addition to a few others. The Rebels (11-0-2 headed into the final week of the regular season) have five players with at least 17 points, led by senior
Tatum Barton 53 (24 goals, five assists).
Barton's 24 goals lead the 5A classification, and teammate
Amanda Porter's 21 assists are also good for first (and second overall in the state).
Kelcey Cavarra has seven goals and nine assists for 23 points.
Factor in senior goalkeeper
Brittany Wilson, who has allowed only four goals in 13 games, and it's little wonder why Columbine has enjoyed the success it has in 2016.
With the state playoff brackets set to be released Sunday, May 8, here is a look at some of the state's statistical leaders in each of the four classifications (only reported statistics are considered):
Class 5A• Tatum Barton, Sr., Columbine – Barton has tallied 24 goals and five assists through 12 games. The senior has scored at least one goal in 10 of those contests, including a five-goal game and a pair of four-goal outbursts.
• Taylor Heil, Sr., Cherokee Trail (Aurora) – Heil has allowed only five goals this season for the Cougars, who are unbeaten in 13 games. She has yet to allow more than one goal in a game.
• Teaggan Ilela, Jr., Hinkley (Aurora) – Ilela's balance has shown all season, with the junior scoring 21 goals to go along with 16 assists. Her 58 points are fifth overall in the state in any class and lead 5A. She has two games of five assists.
• Alyssa Kaiser, Sr., Ralston Valley (Arvada) – Another player who gets it done in multiple ways, Kaiser's 51 points rank third in 5A, and her 17 assists are good for second. She has 17 goals to go along with her assist total.
• Reagan McCombs, So., Grandview (Aurora) – The defending 5A state champions are sitting at 10-0-1 this season, and McCombs' play in the net is a big reason why. The goalkeeper has allowed only four goals and has a 0.4 GAA (goals allowed average).
• Amanda Porter, Jr., Columbine – Porter's 21 assists rank first in 5A and is tied for first overall in the state. While she only has six goals on the season, her work getting her teammates involved has been a big key to the team's success.
• Madeline Stesney, Sr., Denver East – Stesney has 18 goals and nine assists this spring, adding up to 45 points. Teammate
Quinn Yawger has been a key contributor as well with 15 assists.
• Michaela Stark, Sr., Broomfield – The Eagles have received plenty of production from their senior, who has 49 points this spring. Stark's 20 goals rank third in 5A, and she has nine assists as well.
• Brittany Wilson, Sr., Columbine – Wilson's 0.3 GAA ranks first in 5A, and the senior has given up just the four goals. She has nine shutouts.
Class 4A
• Brianna Alger, Jr., Lewis-Palmer (Monument) – The Rangers are currently ranked first in 4A, and Alger is a big part of that. The junior ranks fourth in the classification with 56 points, and has 23 goals and 10 assists.
• Haley Arsenault, Sr., Lewis-Palmer – Alger's teammate, Arsenault, has been just as dominant on the defensive side of the ball. The keeper has allowed only six goals in more than 1,000 minutes of play while going against some of 4A's top teams.
• Reilly Blakeslee, So., Elizabeth – The Cardinals have put some ridiculous numbers thus far, and Blakeslee is one of three players with more than 40 points. She has 12 goals, but her 21 assists are tied for first in the entire state.
• Kierra Cox, So., Vista PEAK Prep (Aurora) – Cox has been a scoring machine for the Bison. Her 71 points rank second in the state overall and lead 4A. Her 30 goals rank second overall as well, and she has 11 assists. She has a pair of five-goal games.
• Lauren Fletcher/Raeann Queener, Soph., The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs) – The two sophomores have split time in net for the Titans, combining to allow only five goals. Their combined GAA is 0.5.
• Summer Hatch, So., Elizabeth – Another sophomore sensation for the Cardinals, Hatch ranks fifth in 4A with 47 points (15 goals, 17 assists). Both of those numbers are good for second on her team.
• Kaitlyn Krieg, Jr., Denver South – Krieg is third in 4A with 59 points. The junior is third in goals with 22 and has 15 assists to go along with that.
• Caroline Miller, Sr., Erie – Miller is right up there with her fellow 4A standouts, sitting second with 62 points and third in the state overall. She has done a little of everything with 21 goals and 20 assists.
• Meri Sandy, Jr., Elizabeth – The final one of the Cardinals' high-scoring trio, Sandy leads the team with 20 goals – good for fourth overall in 4A.
• Katie Scott, Sr., Air Academy (US Air Force Academy) – Another dominant keeper from the Colorado Springs-metro area, Scott has allowed only five goals in 923 minutes of play this spring for a 0.4 GAA. The Kadets are currently ranked fifth in the classification.
• Ocoee Wilson, Sr., Steamboat Springs – The Sailors are ranked eighth, with 12 wins in 13 tries. Wilson's defense has keyed the surge, as the senior has allowed only five goals all season. She has nine shutouts to her credit.
Class 3A
• Olivia Bachelet, Sr., Liberty Common (Fort Collins) – The sixth-ranked Eagles boast the classification's top scorer in Bachelet, who has 57 points on the season. Her 27 goals lead 3A, and she has a six-goal game earlier this season.
• Emily Bunch, Sr., The Academy (Westminster) – Bunch has the Wildcats in contention again. The goalkeeper has allowed two goals in 800 minutes of play for a 0.2 GAA.
• Jaycie Dillenburg, Jr., Sterling – Dillenburg's 50 points have helped spark the No. 10 Tigers. The junior owns 21 goals to go along with eight assists.
• Jade Gallegos, Sr., The Pinnacle (Federal Heights) – Just behind Bachelet is Gallegos, who has 56 points and 26 goals. The senior also scored six goals in a game this season.
• Tatianna Garcia/Mandy Stricker, The Academy – Garcia, a senior, has combined with sophomore Stricker to post 27 assists for the high-scoring Wildcats. The unbeaten squad has 82 goals, led by 14 from senior
Hailey Sanchez.
• Lisa McClain, Fr., Middle Park (Granby) – Just a freshman, McClain's 53 points rank third in 3A. She's scored at least one goal in 10 games.
• Kyra Kurtz, So., Colorado Academy (Denver) – Kurtz has allowed only two goals thus far for the defending state champions. The sophomore has nine shutouts.
Class 2A
• Addison Kanon, Sr., Cornerstone Christian Academy (Westminster) – The fourth-ranked Bulldogs have two of 2A's top scorers. Kanon's 47 points rank fourth in the classification, with 17 goals and 13 assists.
• Sophie Brussell, Sr., Dawson School (Lafayette) – Brussell has poured in 40 points this spring, with the senior scoring 15 goals and adding 10 assists.
• Mikayla Grubbs, Sr., Cornerstone Christian Academy – The other half to the 1-2 punch of the Bulldogs is Grubbs. The senior owns 51 points with 19 goals and 13 assists.
• Hannah Isenhart, Jr., Dawson School – Isenhart has been the state's most prolific scorer this spring. The junior has a state-best 84 points, and her 34 goals also lead the entire state. She's added 16 assists, has a five-goal game and five more games with four goals.
• Maggie Kirkpatrick, Jr., Evangelical Christian (Colorado Springs) – Kirkpatrick has allowed only 12 goals for Evangelical Christian, good for a 1.4 GAA.
• Samantha O'Brien, So., Clear Creek (Evergreen) – O'Brien is the classification's second-leading scorer with 57 points. The sophomore has 24 goals to go along with nine assists.
