Girls soccer teams looking to make noise as the season gets underway

With the season having already begun, here is a look at each classification in terms of some teams that could be in play for a state championship run and as well as some individual players that will help raise their teams to new heights.

Class 5A
Broomfield: Returning four of their top five scorers from last year is a big boost for the defending state champs. Junior Reagan Kotschau is the team's returning leading scorer as she buried seven shots into the net. Michaela McGowan is also back after scoring five goals and leading the team with six assists. The Eagles entered the 5A state tournament as the No. 2 seed and outscored their opponents 14-2 to claim just their second girls soccer title in school history.

Pine Creek (Colorado Springs): Of the 59 goals that Pine Creek scored as a team last year, players who combined for 52 are back on the field in 2022. Isa Murdock led the Eagles in both goals (14) and assists (10). Ava Amsden added 10 goals a freshman, and Monica Yoder added another eight as a sophomore. Pine Creek was a state quarterfinal team in 2021 and should be able to make a bid for the semifinals this year.

Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch): Name an important player from Rock Canyon's team last season and it's likely that player is back this year. Cate Sheahan led the team with 13 goals and returns for her senior year. The sophomore duo of Grace Rossner and Clara Geuzaine combined for 17 goals last season and should have an increased impact this year. Jazzy Lorenz is also back as the netminder after registering a 0.951 goals against average in 2021. The Jags went 12-2 last season, with one of those losses coming to Broomfield in the state title game.

Players to watch
Ajanae Respass, Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch): She finished third in 5A with 17 goals and helped Valor get the No. 1 seed heading into the state tournament. With a lot of returning production around her, she should improve those numbers as the Eagles try to improve their postseason result.

Faith Rivero, Brighton: Last year Rivero led the Bulldogs with 14 goals and eight assists to help lead them into the 5A playoffs. They lost to Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch), but a with a player like Rivera on the roster, they should make noise again in 2022.

Kylie Wells, Fruita Monument: A 7-2-1 record for the Wildcats in 2021 gives them hope heading into the spring, and Wells is a big reason why. She scored 12 goals last year and was 14th in the class with 28 points.

Class 4A
Evergreen: Twice in a row have the Cougars reached the 4A state championship only to fall short of winning a title. They  hope this season can be different and have some key pieces that can hopefully lead to a championship. Catherine Rapp returns for her senior year after leading the team in goals (11) and assists (nine). Elizabeth Rapp should also play an increased role after scoring six goals last season. Aubrey Huerta is back at keeper after a solid year defending the net. The Cougars as a team allowed just five goals in 2021.

Northridge (Greeley): As a freshman, Sunnie Yarnell put the Grizzlies on the map in 2021. She buried 21 shots into the net and averaged 3.5 points per game. She will get back a lot of support around her as Kira Villarreal is back for her senior season after scoring 11 goals last season. A young, inexperienced Northridge team finished the regular season undefeated and advanced to the state semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Holy Family (Broomfield).

The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs): The Titans lost just four seniors from last year's semifinal team, which makes them dangerous heading into the 2022 season. Sophomore Katerina Smetana is looking to build on a solid foray into her high school career as she scored eight goals and dished out three assists during the season. Hope Ahnfeldt will assume to the role of senior leader after scoring six goals and dishing out five assists in 2021.

Players to watch
Morgan Berry, Woodland Park: As a junior, Berry helped the Panthers put together a remarkable 9-1 season. She scored 14 goals, had four assists and set the overall tone for the team. She will make a play to win 4A Colorado Springs Metro League South player of the year.

Emma Long, Skyview (Thornton): The returning leading scorer in 4A scored 19 goals and had eight assists to help the Wolverines to a 5-5-1 record last year. If her field numbers can improve, Skyview should have a significantly better season with a playoff appearance very much in the cards.

Pierson Weimer, Pueblo County: A 4-6 season wasn't what the Hornets were hoping for last year, but a bright spot was Weimer's play. She scored 16 goals and had five assists and was one of just two freshmen to crack the 4A top 20 in total points scored.

Class 3A
Jefferson Academy (Broomfield): The Jaguars were one of two teams that pushed Kent Denver to its limit. They opened the season with a 1-1 tie over the Sun Devils then lost 2-1 to them in the state semifinals. Junior Kate Runyon returns after leading the team with 24 goals and 14 assists. Helen Stegner is also back in front of the net after allowing just seven goals  last season. The fact that Jefferson Academy plays in the tough 3A Metro League is something that should play to its advantage come the postseason.

Kent Denver (Englewood): Getting through the 2021 season without a single loss was an amazing feat for the Sun Devils. It shouldn't necessarily be expected that they repeat the performance this season, but with so much returning talent, it's not out of the question. Izzy Newton and Maria Romo-Nichols led the team with 12 and 11 goals, respectively. Megan Ho led the team with 10 assists, giving the Sun Devils a potent trio.

Vail Mountain: The Gore Rangers head into the spring with a lot of talent in their junior class. Kjersti Moritz and Stella Stone combined to score 40 goals. Senior Gaby Gish also returns after recording a team-high 14 assists. Vail Mountain rolled to 12 consecutive wins in 2021 before falling to Colorado Academy (Denver) in the state semifinals. With a strong core returning, their goal is to at least match that result from last year and hopefully play its way into a state title game.

Players to watch
Arianna Harrison, Bennett: As a freshman, Harrison finished second in the classification with 16 assists. She also scored 13 goals, which was no easy feat while playing just 10 regular season games. If she can build on a solid freshman year, the Tigers could be looking at a solid 2022 campaign.

Adjrieanne ( AJ ) Loera, The Academy (Westminster): Loera led all 3A players in goals (39) and total points (89) in 2021. In fact, she was the only player to go for more than 62 points through the course of the season. She will try and match what older sister Alexis Loera did in 2017 and lead the Wildcats to a state title.

Madrid Mack, Manitou Springs: After finishing in the top 10 of 3A players in points at 44, Mack is hoping she can guide the Mustangs to another league title and a deeper playoff run. Manitou Springs went undefeated in the regular season, but the lack of tough competition led to an upset loss to Aspen in the first round of the state tournament.

Class 2A
Dawson School (Lafayette): There could be some concern over the fact that the Mustangs graduated Degan Miller, who scored an incredible 43 goals in just 11 games, but there's not. Sophomore Lauren Muniz is back after scoring 21 goals for her team, which helped them roll to a state championship last spring. Madison Shaw, Helen Leon and Kate Epstein are all back after scoring at least 11 goals apiece. Junior keeper Rowan Harral is back in front of the net, and overall Dawson looks capable of defending its state crown.

Denver Christian: The Thunder suffered a semifinal loss in last year's postseason, but returns most of its standouts from that roster. As a sophomore, Nerea Genc led the team in both goals (23) and assists (10). Taylor McNally and Sydney Fitzgerald also return after recording at least 13 goals each. Denver Christian has put together a competitive schedule that should have the team more playoff ready as they look to claim a state title that eluded them last season.

Players to watch
Sydney Adamson, Rye: The senior is looking to follow up a big junior campaign where she scored 26 goals and dished out 11 assists. She was second in 2A in goals scored and total points to help the Thunderbolts go 7-3 on the season.

Maizy Gordon, Ridgway: The Demons had a respectable 6-4 season last year, and Gordon is a big reason why. She scored 18 goals and totaled 38 points. She will lead the team as a junior this year and will try power Ridgway to a better record in 2022 and a playoff appearance to go with it.

Rylie Young, Clear Creek (Evergreen): Young led all freshman in 2A last season with 22 goals. She also contributed to her teammates' goals 10 times to become one of the most effective players in the entire state. She has lofty expectations heading into the 2022 season.