It was strange to see the Golden Eagles struggle to figure out an opponent.
But as it did all season, Mountain Vista High School girls soccer figured out which pegs go into which holes to defeat Dakota Ridge and earn its second Class 5A state championship.
Vista, the No. 1 seed, defeated No. 3 Dakota Ridge 3-1 May 25 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. The Eagles won the title despite trailing 1-0 at halftime.
Almost 20 minutes into the game, Dakota Ridge’s Kelsey Loupee sneaked a free kick into Vista’s net from just outside the 18-yard box.
Vista’s offense fell into 40 minutes of frustration as its forwards came up with seven scoring chances that were either ripped wide of the goal or hit the crossbar or the post. That all changed in the second period. Just over 15 minutes past the half, Vista’s Gabby Miranda, a sophomore midfielder, drilled a long ball from nearly 35-yards out into the corner of Ridge’s goal to tie it 1-1.
“I was in shock,” Miranda said. “We had been struggling all game (until then). … I’ve never worked so hard in my life.”
With almost five minutes remaining, senior Bri Pugh, who’d failed to find the back of the net in the first half, finally tucked one in the left corner of the goal, assisted by Tailor Smith. Less than a minute later, Kortney Hix capitalized on an unlucky bounce that went over the head of Dakota Ridge goalkeeper Haley Millhollan for the nail-in-the-coffin goal. Jenna Owens was credited with an assist.
Pugh said the difference between halves for Vista was having trouble figuring out Dakota Ridge’s defense.
“We couldn’t do our usual through balls,” Pugh said. “Once we got them figured out, we got it like we have all season pretty much.”
Dakota Ridge wasn’t without their moments. Several opportunities were put together, but Golden Eagles goalie Danielle Cushing only had to make one save with the Vista defense breaking up most of Ridge’s attacks.
Mountain Vista’s first state championship came in 2005 after the Eagles beat Arapahoe in a shootout.
Mountain Vista finished with a 17-0-2 record in its 2011 championship season.