DENVER — Mountain Vista senior Riley McDonald's winning goal in the 99th minute came just before lightning flashed at CIBER Field on the University of Denver campus Wednesday night.
Top-seeded Mountain Vista (17-0-1) earned a 1-0 overtime victory over fifth-seeded Ralston Valley (15-3-1). The four-time 5A state champion Golden Eagles will seek their fifth title next Wednesday, May 22nd at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
“We've been working on this all season. We've been performing well,” McDonald said of the Golden Eagles' previous undefeated season. “We just wanted to win. I think it showed how many scoring chances we had. We finally got one done.”
Mountain Vista converted a number of corner kicks and scrums in front of Ralston Valley senior goalkeeper Margot Mulhern. However, the Golden Eagles were unable to find the back of the net until early in the second overtime period.
Photo by Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
“I put it over (the defender) and in the corner,” McDonald said. “I just needed to be successful.”
After McDonald's winning goal, teammates rushed onto the field just before lightning struck southwest of DU, delaying the start of the second semifinal game by nearly 90 minutes.
“I felt like the language against this team was relentless,” Mountain Vista coach Theresa Echtermeyer said. “They never give up on the ball and never give up on each other. I'm so proud of them. They found a way.”
Mountain Vista senior Lily Boydstan has some great scoring opportunities. Mulhern made several diving saves and even though he wasn't the goaltender, he was able to clear the ball from a Mustangs defender that would have gone to the back of the net.
“Ralston Valley’s defense was great,” McDonald said. “They're a great opponent for us. We knew it wouldn't be easy.”
Mountain Vista didn't have an easy shot at being 5A's leading scorer this season. Ralston Valley junior Laurie Gleason (36 goals of the season) was held back and the Mustangs were shut out for the second time this season.
“Someone has to put good pressure on and make sure the players off the ball are smart,” Echtermeyer said of how Mountain Vista handled its leading scorers in 5A. “You need to support her to protect her.”
Photo by Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
One of the Mustangs' best scoring chances in the first half was Gleason's rocket that narrowly went over the crossbar.
“They had multiple people on me,” Grision said of how Mountain Vista defended her. “They know I’m a leading scorer and they know I have a target on my back.”
Although a junior, it could have been Gleason's last game in a Mustang jersey. She had already made her verbal commitment to attend Texas Tech University. If Gleason decides to graduate her first semester early next winter, she will enroll at Texas Tech University and forgo her senior soccer season next spring.
“It's just time and I'm just talking it over with my parents,” Gleason said of the decision-making process. “I'm going to go there (Texas Tech) for a camp this summer. Let's see if I like it. It might be make or break.”
Gleason had one of the most impressive seasons on the soccer field in recent Colorado history, averaging nearly two goals per game at the highest level.
After the Mustangs failed to advance to the title game, Gleason admitted, “I would love to come back and play another year with this program.” “But at the same time, it's the next four years for me. I'm really looking forward to it. Either way, I'm going to be happy with whatever I do.”
Regardless of whether Gleason returns next season, Ralston Valley coach Kamee Morwood has a strong core to return next year. Still, the loss in double overtime will remain with them for a while.
“They wanted to win,” Morwood said of his team. “They put themselves on the line. They gave everything they had. That's all we can ask of them.”
Coach Echtermeyer will ask his team to take an extensive week off and rest before next week's championship game on Wednesday, May 22nd.
“It was certainly a tough battle for whoever made it through to this round, for sure. A lot of games in a short period of time,” said Echtermeier, who will play four games in nine days during the playoffs. He talked about the semifinal team. “We'll see who comes out on top in this game (Heritage vs. Rock Canyon).”
Echtermeyer has a chance to win his seventh state title as a coach. The legendary coach has won state titles at Green Mountain twice (1997 and 1999) and at Mountain Vista four times (2005, 2011, 2013, 2017). obtained.
