Valor Christian junior Sophia Niemi has the Eagles on the path to their first playoff berth. In five games she already has totaled 26 goals and 10 assists to lead Valor to an undefeated start.
File photo by Tim Visser
When Marye Kellerman came to Colorado three years back, she had some strict parameters. She was seeking a girls lacrosse head coaching job, but it couldn't be just any job.
She craved a program that had the resources to succeed, but also one that wasn't already entrenched in the limelight. She wanted to help the squad reach its glory days for the first time.
One school clearly fit the bill:
Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch).
"I wanted to build a program at a good school," Kellerman said. "And Valor kind of fell in my lap. It's been so fun and just a great environment to coach in."
Things are going according to plan.
The Eagles have started 5-0 this season and have an all-state type of talent in junior
Sophia Niemi (26 goals and 10 assists). Last season was the Eagles' best, when they narrowly missed their first-ever playoff appearance with a 9-6 mark.
That won't do this season.
"This is the year," Kellerman said. "I'm really hopeful that this will be the first year we make it, and I think as long as they play within themselves and they come out ready to practice, I think we have a pretty good shot at making it."
The players are on board. Niemi, who is looking into Ivy League schools both academically and athletically, agrees that it is playoffs or bust this spring.
"Last year was a heartbreaker," Niemi said. "We were so sad about it. We had a little bit of time to be moping about it, but the moment preseason started, we knew making the playoffs was our goal and that's what we wanted to accomplish.
"We've taken into consideration all the teams we're going to be playing this season and we know what the requirements are. And because of last year, we know the mistakes we can't make."
The Eagles began the season by edging Dakota Ridge (Littleton) 13-12 and Smoky Hill (Aurora) 12-10. Then they've put up 20 goals in three straight games in wins over Liberty (Colorado Springs), Conifer and Golden. While Niemi once again has starred after notching 63 goals and 16 assists last season, she has been far from a one-girl show.
Junior
Dominique Shells has scored 15 goals, sophomore
Mckenna Johnson 13 and freshman
Dani Malinski 11. All three have contributed six assists. In addition, goalie
Maddie Meuret has been solid behind a stingy corps of defenders.
Add it up and one can see why the Eagles are 5-0.
"I think a big thing is we aren't very well known as a team to be reckoned with," Niemi said. "We aren't like Regis or ThunderRidge, big schools with lots of people that are known for their lacrosse. But the past few years we've been building up to a team that wants to be a force and that other teams need to prepare for.
"This year, we've had such an insanely amazing team dynamic. We all push each other as hard as we can so we can be the best team we can be."
Buoyed by stout sophomore and junior classes, things are meshing quickly for the Eagles. Of course they'll be tested more sternly this week, when Continental League play gets underway. But with players like Niemi in the fold, it wouldn't be surprising if Valor made a solid run in league play.
"She is amazing," Kellerman said. "I coached for two years in Baltimore and three out here, and she's one of the hardest-working, easygoing, coachable kids I've ever coached. Obviously she's really good. She has a really strong shot and is a really great team player. But she's just an overall good kid and she's more interested in bringing the team up than herself."
Kellerman played high school lacrosse at all-girls
Maryvale Prep (Brooklandville) in Maryland before landing at Virginia, where she graduated in 2010. She then spent two seasons coaching another all-girls school,
Mercy), a Baltimore-area squad she played against in high school.
Then it was off to Valor Christian, which was coming off a 3-10 season in 2011-12. The Eagles bumped up to 6-8 in Kellerman's first season and had the near-miss last year. With the fast start this season, it's safe to say things are continuing to trend upward.
"I think the biggest growth is their confidence and knowing how good they actually are," Kellerman said.
