Broomfield standout Brittney Stark (24) has signed to continue her soccer career at the University of Colorado. Before she heads to Boulder, though, she and her Eagles teammates believe they have unfinished business in Class 4A.
File photos by Carl Auer
Over the past 10 months,
Brittney Stark of
Broomfield has had plenty of time to put the final game of her junior season behind her.
Even so, there is a bitter taste that still lingers for Stark and her teammates, reminding them of where the Eagles have been and where they still want to go.
Last May, Broomfield was playing for its first state girls soccer championship since 2006, having advanced to the Class 4A state title game. Once there, though, the Eagles' title dreams were denied by
Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs) in a 2-0 setback.
"It's haunting because it's hard to get that far and not be able to prevail," said the University of Colorado-bound forward. "But at the same time, we have to get there again. This is our motivation to get there, and it's all that much more reason to work harder this season, so we don't get there and come out on the losing end."
Returning nine starters from that 16-win squad, the third-ranked Eagles are once again a force to be reckoned with this spring. Stark has already signed to continue her playing career, as have teammates
Katie Forsee (Portland State),
Paige Lindbloom (Otero Junior College) and
Kerri Marquardt (Wisconsin-Whitewater).
"We have certainly set expectations at the highest level," Eagles coach Jim Davidson said. "We have a great core group of returning players and also some really strong young players that can provide that role-playing opportunity for us. We certainly would like to fight to get back to that state title game."
Forsee and Stark are among the driving forces of that movement. The duo combined for 21 goals and 10 assists a year ago, with
Michaela Stark and Marquardt adding a scoring punch of their own.
Katie Forsee, Broomfield.
Even with the graduation of forward Courtney Miknis, the experience up top gives Broomfield something to build around, and Lindbloom returns at goalkeeper. Davidson admitted an inexperienced back line that lost two starters will take some time to develop, but there are plenty of good pieces already in place.
That said, a 1-1-1 start to 2014 has served as an early reminder that nothing is set in stone in the 4A ranks.
"I think one thing that dawned on all of us is this is not last season. I think it kind of sobers you up and reminds you nothing is going to be given to us," Davidson said. "We have a target on our back and we're different. We have to work extremely hard and earn everything we get this season."
The early non-league schedule has provided its fair share of tests. After opening with a victory over 5A Smoky Hill (Aurora), Broomfield dropped a tough 3-1 game to 5A rival Legacy (Broomfield), currently ranked fifth. A 2-2 tie with 4A No. 4 Lewis-Palmer (Monument) concluded play before the break.
The loss to the Lightning resonated with the entire team.
"I think it was a wake-up call for us," Forsee said. "I think it puts us into the realization that we have to work for everything. It was definitely a rivalry game and a lot of emotions went into it. We hope to bounce back from it."
An 18-day layoff before resuming play against No. 7 Palmer Ridge (Monument) – a rematch of a 2013 state semifinal – on April 3 could be a blessing in disguise, giving the team a chance to train and generate some chemistry before Northern League play gets underway April 8.
For the team's eight seniors, this spring offers one last opportunity to play together and a shot at redemption. Stark said she and her teammates are grateful to have a second chance and are eager to get back on the field and prove themselves.
As for playing at the collegiate level, that can wait – for Broomfield, the present is the only thing that matters at the moment.
"We realize this is the last chance to do anything in high school," Forsee said. "I feel like all of our seniors are pushing toward that and we definitely have younger players backing us up. We want to make that last push."
