The last thing Wheat Ridge’s and Golden’s girls soccer teams wanted to do was spend any more time on the field than was absolutely necessary.
Thanks to an assist from Mother Nature though, that’s exactly what happened. After battling a fierce wind for 80 minutes, the two longtime Jeffco rivals were forced to fight through a pair of overtimes Tuesday, April 6, at the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada. Neither team could even get off a shot in the extra sessions, playing to a 0-0 tie in Class 4A Jeffco League play.
“The wind really does even out the playing field,” said Farmers goalkeeper Hannah Van Wetter, who made six saves in regulation. “It really played a big factor.”
It was the first time Wheat Ridge (4-0-1, 1-0-1 in 4A Jeffco) hadn’t walked off the field with a victory under its belt since May 10, 2008. The defending state champions ran the table a year ago — defeating Golden twice along the way — but couldn’t solve the Demons or the wind Tuesday.
“It’s frustrating to have the quality of players on the field, and then have the conditions overpower the game,” Wheat Ridge coach Dan Watkins said.
The cold, biting wind was already causing problems before the game, but things only got worse for the Farmers after midfielder Bella Hartley sprained her knee less than five minutes into the first half.
The junior stayed on the ground for several minutes before being helped off the field. She didn’t return.
“We were mostly worried about her,” Van Wetter said. “It’s hard because she controls the midfield a lot.”
Without Hartley and with forward Annie Kunz playing with a sprained ankle, Wheat Ridge’s offense managed only two shots on Golden keeper Casey Polk in the first half. In fact, the offense didn’t truly pick up until 19 minutes were left in the second half.
Van Wetter made a diving stop on a Missy Conklin shot that the Farmers defense was able to clear out, and minutes later Polk denied Wheat Ridge freshman Macee Broer, who took over for Hartley.
Golden’s next chance came with 8:41 left. Abby Rolph’s corner kick found its way to Nicholette DiGiacomo, but the senior’s header went just over the crossbar.
Wheat Ridge had its best opportunity come less than a minute later. Kunz was awarded a penalty kick after being taken down in the box by Golden’s Amanda Arner, but Kunz’s attempt into the wind sailed over the net.
Polk finished with four saves for the Demons (4-3-1, 2-0-1).
“They are a great team, and we learned a lot,” Van Wetter said. “But it comes down to we didn’t do enough.”