With the postseason opening May 6 and playoff teams yet to be
determined, a number of schools will rely on younger talent to help
out.
By By: Scott Kaniewski
While playoff time calls for veteran leadership from seniors and
juniors, sophomores and freshmen can play key roles in a team’s run
through the playoffs.
With the postseason opening May 6 and playoff teams yet to be
determined, a number of schools will rely on younger talent to help
out.
Heritage High School has a number of young players, including
four starting sophomores, one of them in net. Mountain Vista High
School has a number of younger players and relies on scoring from a
freshman-sophomore combo up top. Arapahoe High, the top team in the
Continental League, has had plenty of time to prepare its young
players for the next level.
Heritage High has not only opted to play younger players but has
done so out of necessity. The Eagles graduated goal scorer Alex
Hooker, but replaced her with first-team all conference freshman
midfielder Becca Medina.
Medina got a taste of playoff soccer last year. But a red card
in the quarterfinals earned her a suspension for the semifinals, a
game the top-ranked Eagles lost 2-1 to Cherry Creek.
This playoff season, Medina will have more pressure on her
shoulders. The sophomore has been moved to center midfield to take
over for the injured Leslie Boersma, who will miss the rest of the
season while her leg is in a brace.
The Eagles moved Medina over to the middle and dropped back
junior Kayla Yee to help out.
“It’s pretty hard,” Medina said about the move to the middle of
the field. “It’s a big adjustment.”
Yee is becoming accustomed to seeing Medina in the middle
instead of Boersma.
“She’s such a good player,” Yee said. “I love playing wither
her. She’s stepped up and done such a good job and she’s just a
sophomore.”
Mountain Vista is relying on a couple of underclassmen to carry
their offense. And the Golden Eagles have gotten plenty of results
from them.
One of the fastest strikers in the league is only a sophomore
for the Golden Eagles. When in doubt, the Mountain Vista defense
can boot the ball out past the defense and let Haley Hughes chase
it down.
Another player looking to create for Hughes and the rest of the
Golden Eagles is freshman Jenna Owens. Owens has three goals and
generates a lot of shots.
Mountain Vista coach Theresa Echtermeyer is so pleased with the
pair, she has options with them.
“We have some variety in our formations,” said Echtermeyer.
“Haley can play up high or wide. Jenna can play the midfield or up
high.”
Echtermeyer also relies on a pair of freshmen for plenty of
playing time. A.J. Larsen doesn’t start but helps prevent opposing
scorers from getting chances when she steps in on the defensive
line. Ashton Hall is a starter in the midfield.
The Golden Eagles have had a number of injuries. Owens missed a
couple games, and fellow attacker Lizzy Sanford is out with
injuries now. So Echtermeyer has taken a different approach to
preparing some of her younger players.
“We’re resting players,” she said.
Hughes, who also runs the 100 yards and 200 yards for the track
team, leads the Golden Eagles with six goals. Her outstanding speed
helps teammates in the offensive attack and hurts opponents trying
to play the ball back to the goalie.
Hughes played varsity last year when the team was knocked out in
the second round. She sounds like a veteran.
“This year the team has more urgency, an urgency in our play,”
she said. “Last year, it was intense throughout.”
She’s also seen Owens, Hall and Larsen grow up
quickly.
“Our freshmen are amazing this year,” Hughes said. “They know
how to win.”
The Arapahoe Warriors know how to win as a team. They have yet
to lose a league game. The only blemish on their overall record is
a loss to league rival, Heritage, in a tournament championship
game.
Among those talented players are sophomores Allie Stone and
Laura Feehs. Freshman Shannon Koundourakis has five goals and five
assists. Freshman Samantha Harder often starts on
defense.
Stone was part of last year’s semifinals team. Feehs is in her
first season on the varsity squad and for good reason. She’s tied
for the team lead with nine goals.
Stone is ready for her second playoff experience.
“It’s pretty intense,” she said. “Even training is more
serious.”
Feehs is looking forward to the playoffs.
“I’m really excited,” Feehs said. “I haven’t had the chance yet.
I’ll have to pick up the level in playoffs.
“[The upperclassmen] tell us it’s a big difference. They start
preparing us.”
Arapahoe coach Kirk Bast knows the younger players are more
susceptible to over-scrutinizing themselves. He doesn’t want that
to be a problem.
“You don’t want them to feel the pressure,” Bast said. “You just
want them to play.”
Heritage entered the season without a starting goalie and coach
Tony Hurt was justly worried. Few options left him looking at a
pair of young goalies. Over the course of the season, sophomore
Kari Spicer has put those worries to rest.
“I was concerned at the position,” Hurt said. “She’s doing a
good job.”
Spicer dreamed of starting for the Eagles. She just didn’t
expect it to happen so soon.
“I never imagined it,” she said. “I remember in eighth grade
being the ball girl at games. Now it’s real life.
“I’m going to be nervous. I just have to maintain my
focus.”
In addition to Spicer, defenders Lizzy Herzl and Hannah Marsh,
both sophomores, see ample playing time.
As the younger players earn their stripes, not only do they add
to their current teams, but they also help build for the
future.
“We’ve played Arapahoe twice, Cherry Creek and Mountain Vista,”
Hurt said. “We’ve played some good teams.”
His players are aware of the experience they’ve received. They
plan to take it with them into the next level.
“It’ll help us,” Medina said. “When we’re seniors we’ll have a
lot of experience.”
303-566-4106 | skaniewski@ccnewspapers.com.