Girls soccer: 10 Colorado games to watch in March

Somewhat buried in all the hype surrounding the prep basketball postseason was that spring sports are finally underway.

The girls soccer season is already off to a strong start, and the majority of teams have a handful of games in the win-loss columns. The 2015 season is also about ringing in the new – as in a new classification.

For the first time, a fourth classification (2A) has been added into the mix, with 23 teams seeking one of 12 spots in the 2A state playoffs. Enrollment for 2A is for schools with 240 students or less.

As the hunt for a date at Dick's Sporting Goods Park May 19 and 20 begins, here is a look at 10 games to keep an eye on for the remainder of March:

Class 5A

• Broomfield (3-0) at Monarch (Louisville) (2-2), 6 p.m., March 17
The runner-up in 4A a year ago, the Eagles have made the jump to 5A but haven't missed a beat in the early going. No. 6 Broomfield is coming off a 1-0 shutout of 4A No. 7 Niwot, and seven players have scored through three games. The Front Range League opener is against a Monarch squad whose two losses came to top-10 teams: No. 10 Fairview (Boulder) and No. 2 Arapahoe (Centennial). The Coyotes took Arapahoe into double-overtime before falling 1-0.

• Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) (1-1) at Ralston Valley (Arvada) (3-1-1), 5 p.m., NAAC, March 18
A rematch of a second-round game a year ago, the Bruins get an early test against the 5A runner-up from last season. Creek fell to Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch) early this season, but sophomore Libby Geraghty already owns five goals. The Mustangs started with three victories before tying Legacy (Broomfield) and losing to Denver East. Juniors Alyssa Kaiser and Alaina Snedden have combined for nine goals.

• ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) (2-0) at Columbine (Littleton) (2-1), 4:30 p.m., CFC Field, March 19
An early top-10 matchup, No. 4 ThunderRidge is off to a strong start that includes a win over 2014 state semifinalist Pine Creek (Colorado Springs). Senior Kayla Hill has three goals in the first two games for the Grizzlies. Columbine, the defending 5A champion, dropped its first contest March 14 to Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins), but coach Brian Todd returns a talented core from last year's squad. Junior Tatum Barton has four goals in three games, and freshman Skylar Alward owns three.

• Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins) (3-1) at Rocky Mountain (2-0), 6:30 p.m., French Field, March 26
Another interesting Front Range showdown takes place toward the end of the month between two Fort Collins-area schools. Fossil Ridge was the No. 1 overall seed a year ago but was upset in the second round. After a season-opening loss to Heritage (Littleton), the SaberCats rattled off three wins in a row – including a 6-2 triumph over 4A defending champion Cheyenne Mountain. All the Lobos have done so far is defeat the defending 5A state champions.

Class 4A

• Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs) (2-2) at The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs) (3-0), 6:30 p.m., March 17
The defending 4A state champs have faced a brutal schedule early, and it won't get any easier against current No. 1 TCA, which was the 3A runner-up last spring. The Indians return a pair of all-state talents, including senior Hannah Gerdin (six goals in four games). The Titans opened with three impressive victories over a trio of 4A powers last season, and TCA's defense has been strong in all three contests.

• Evergreen (3-0) at Air Academy (US Air Force Academy) (2-2), 6 p.m., March 17
Second-ranked Evergreen was a tourney surprise a year ago as a No. 24 seed before falling in the quarterfinals to Cheyenne Mountain. The Cougars upset Air Academy in the second round, and have outscored opponents 11-0 so far this spring behind a balanced lineup. The Kadets have a pair of losses, but both came by 1-0 margins. The team has an 18-day layoff after facing the Cougars.

Class 3A

• The Academy (Westminster) (2-0) at Peak to Peak (Lafayette) (2-0), 6 p.m., March 19
The No. 4 seed a year ago, The Academy was upended by Kent Denver in the second round. But the Wildcats have already routed Faith Christian (Arvada) and Jefferson (Edgewater) and return a pair of all-state offensive talents. Senior Allie Falagrady is one of those, and she has four goals already. Peak to Peak had a rare down-year in 2014, but the Pumas are looking strong early with shutouts of Erie and Frontier Academy (Greeley). Senior Sarah Shepherd has 10 saves in the two victories.

• Manitou Springs (0-1) at Jefferson Academy (Broomfield) (0-0), 6 p.m., March 20
The No. 1 overall seed a year ago, the Jaguars saw their hopes dashed by The Classical Academy in the quarterfinals. But Jefferson Academy returns two players (Alycia Wright and Heidi Wendt) who combined for 50 goals as juniors. Manitou Springs got off to a rocky start against 4A Falcon, but the Mustangs were the No. 9 overall seed last spring.

• Kent Denver (Englewood) (3-0) at Smoky Hill (Aurora) (2-1-1), 10 a.m., Stutler Bowl, March 21
The Sun Devils are testing themselves early against a 5A power in Smoky Hill. Kent Denver advanced to the semis last spring before falling to TCA, and has dominated its first three opponents to the tune of 15 goals scored and only one allowed. Sophomore Sage DiGuilio and freshman Emma Billings have six goals each. Smoky Hill had won back-to-back games after a tie and loss in the early going.

Class 2A

• Belleview Christian (Westminster) (0-0) at Cornerstone Christian Academy (Westminster) (1-0), 3 p.m., Broomfield Commons, March 17
The new kid on the block, 2A has a number of teams yet to play a game. An interesting early matchup features two Westminster schools as No. 3 Cornerstone Christian, the No. 32 seed in the 3A playoffs last spring, against Belleview Christian. The Bulldogs opened with an overtime victory over Valley (Gilcrest), while the Bruins have yet to play a game.