Wild March gives way to challenging April in Colorado girls soccer

If the opening month of the Class 5A girls soccer season was any indication, teams may be in for a wild ride over the final two months.

Three of the four teams that reached the 5A state semifinals last spring are off to a combined 6-7 start. Two-time defending champion Grandview (Aurora) dropped its first two games of the season by one goal each before topping Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins) on March 21. The Wolves fell 2-1 to Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch) in a rematch of the 2016 state title game; the Golden Eagles in turn dropped 1-0 decisions to Columbine (Littleton) and ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch).

Columbine – another state semifinalist – lost its next two games to Arapahoe (Centennial) and Regis Jesuit (Aurora).

Broomfield, which lost to Grandview 1-0 in the 2016 semis and was runner-up the three previous years, shut out its three opponents in March. Eight 5A programs are still undefeated headed into April, including a Legacy (Broomfield) team that won only six games last season and missed the playoffs.

While things have been a little more consistent in the state's other three classifications, there are no guarantees as to what April has in store. Here is a look at 10 games to watch this month across the four classifications:

Class 5A
• Arapahoe (5-1) at Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) (7-0), 6 p.m., Thursday, April 13, Stutler Bowl
The two Centennial League foes have combined for 12 victories and 55 goals between them thus far. Arapahoe, which reached the quarterfinals last spring, dropped a game to Ralston Valley (Arvada). The Warriors won their final three games in March, though, and junior Danielle Babb's five goals pace an offense that has had 11 players score goals.
Cherry Creek had a busy March with seven games, and the Bruins outscored their opponents 35-2 along the way. Thirteen players have scored at least one goal, led by senior Libby Geraghty's eight and senior Meg Halvorson's seven goals and six assists.

• Chaparral (Parker) (5-0) at Regis Jesuit (3-0-2), 7 p.m., Thursday, April 27
A Chaparral squad that was the 20th seed in 5A last spring is off to a blazing start. The Wolverines have outscored their opponents 20-3 through the first five games, including an impressive 4-1 victory over Smoky Hill (Aurora). Junior Eliot Edwards is pacing a balanced offense with five goals, but nine players have scored this season.
Regis Jesuit was the third overall seed a year ago before falling in the second round of the state playoffs, and the Raiders are off to another strong start. The team already owns victories over Grandview and Columbine, sandwiched around a pair of 1-1 ties. Six players have scored goals, and senior Gabbie McWilliams has assisted on four of the team's nine goals.

• Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) (4-0) at Grandview (1-2), 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 28, Legacy Stadium
This may be a non-league, inter-classification matchup, but it features two of the state's top programs. Valor Christian, looking to beef up its schedule, already has 19 goals through four games. Eight players have scored, and senior Camryn Dyke has three goals to along with four assists.
Grandview's schedule the rest of the way is the real deal, with challenges at every turn. The Wolves have played only three games thus far, none on their home field. Senior Valerie Peyton scored the game-winning goal against Rocky Mountain to give the team a boost of confidence headed into Tuesday's tilt with Smoky Hill.

• Broomfield (3-0) at Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins) (5-0), 10 a.m., Saturday, April 29
Broomfield shut out its first three opponents on the season, including Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs) in a non-league matchup. Junior Hailey Stodden leads the Eagles with six goals, and junior Grace Fuller has 10 saves in goal.
Fossil Ridge outscored its first five opponents 27-2. Senior Bella Alessi's seven goals have sparked the Sabercats' offense, though nine players have scored overall.

Class 4A
• Wheat Ridge (5-0) at D'Evelyn (Denver) (4-0-1), 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 4, Lakewood Memorial Field
League play in 4A Jeffco kicks off with a bang to start the month, with the fifth-ranked Farmers tested early by No. 6 D'Evelyn. Wheat Ridge shut out four of its first five opponents, with senior Alexandra Nillen scoring seven goals and junior Macie Browne contributing six assists. Sophomore Logan Duford has allowed only one goal.
D'Evelyn has been right up there with the Farmers, with only a 1-1 tie against Dakota Ridge (Littleton) keeping the Jaguars from being perfect in March. Sophomore Laryssa Hamblen is pacing the team's offense with seven goals, and sophomore goalkeeper Kiera Hess has allowed only three goals.

• Cheyenne Mountain (3-2) at The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs) (4-0), 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 4
Another top-10 matchup early in the month, these two teams have faced a gauntlet early. Cheyenne Mountain's two losses have come to the top-ranked teams in 4A (Valor Christian) and 5A (Broomfield). Senior Jamie Burke leads the Indians with three goals and two assists, and sophomore Lisa Long already has four assists to her credit.
The Classical Academy closed March with an impressive 3-0 shutout of defending state champion Lewis-Palmer (Monument), and the Titans also knocked off 3A defending champion Kent Denver (Englewood) and 4A's Air Academy. Senior Hannah Burgo owns three of the team's seven goals, and junior RaeAnn Qeener has allowed one goal through four games.

• Air Academy (US Air Force Academy) (3-3) at Lewis-Palmer (4-0), 6 p.m., Thursday, April 13, Don Breese Stadium
The Pikes Peak League is among the state's most challenging leagues, regardless of classification, and both Lewis-Palmer and Air Academy also have April dates with Cheyenne Mountain.
Lewis-Palmer had a setback against The Classical Academy, then had to survive a tough Green Mountain (Lakewood) team one day later for a 3-2 victory. The Rangers open April with non-league battles against 5A programs Ralston Valley and Doherty (Colorado Springs).
Air Academy also struggled to close March, dropping three in a row. Two of those were one-goal losses to TCA and state semifinalist Mullen (Denver). Junior Abby Sekutera leads the team with three goals.

Class 3A
• Kent Denver (3-1) at Jefferson Academy (Broomfield) (5-0-1), 10 a.m., Saturday, April 15
It would be easy to pick from a number of great games this month in the Region 6 League alone, but this 2016 state semifinal rematch is among the best. Defending champion Kent Denver dropped its opener to 4A's The Classical Academy, but bounced back with three victories in a row. Senior Shelby Schumacher and juniors Emma Billings have scored five goals apiece.
After opening with a tie against Standley Lake (Westminster), Jefferson Academy has reeled off five consecutive victories – including an impressive 2-0 shutout of The Academy (Westminster). Twelve players have scored goals for the Jaguars, led by junior Rachel Schlagel's five.

• Colorado Academy (Denver) (3-1) at Peak to Peak (Lafayette) (4-0), 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 18
Another top-five matchup pits two more Region 6 teams against one another. Colorado Academy, the 2016 runner-up, had its only blemish on the season thus far come to 4A's No. 1 Valor Christian. The Mustangs scored three goals in that game though.
Peak to Peak's month gets off to a rough start with back-to-back games against Jefferson Academy and Kent Denver. The Pumas also face The Academy later in the month. Sophomore Ashley Buck has keyed the team's fast start with five goals in three games.

Class 2A
• Denver Christian (3-1) at Dawson School (Lafayette) (3-0), 4:15 p.m., Thursday, April 20
Denver Christian's only setback this season came at the hands of 3A's sixth-ranked Coal Ridge (New Castle). The Thunder followed with an overtime victory over DSST-Stapleton before downing Resurrection Christian (Loveland). Freshman Kara Amidon has six goals in four games and junior Miranda Kortenhoeven has added four.
Dawson outscored its first three opponents 24-1. Senior Hannah Isenhart and freshman Kaitlyn Day have seven goals each.