NHS girls soccer reaches win goal

After finishing off their conference schedule with a 6-1 record, the Niwot High School girls soccer team had three games left on the schedule to try and reach the 10-win mark for the season.

Sitting at 9-3 entering the final week of the season, the Cougars had some tough opponents to get through if they wanted to reach that goal.

“The goal is always ten wins,” Niwot Head Coach Rob Johnson said. “We tied the league winners and we can have a better record if we finish strong.”

They only needed one game to reach that double digit mark, as the Cougars reached their ten-win goal in resounding fashion, defeating Roosevelt 8-0 and clinching a strong spot in the playoffs.

Senior Sarah Sypher led Niwot in scoring on the day, recording her first hat trick of the season by scoring three goals and also chipping in an assist.

Not to be outdone, junior Maddie Barkow also had an outstanding day on the pitch, scoring two goals and recording two assists of her own.

Sophomores Sophie Stortz and Ali Colvin split time in goal for Niwot, each playing 40 minutes and each recording one save.

The final two games for the Cougars were against tough opponents, which will be good preparation for the start of the playoffs this week.

In a great game against 5A Ralston Valley, Niwot battled to a tie at the half but couldn’t keep up with the scoring in the second half and dropped the game 3-1. Senior Hannah Gray scored the only goal for the Cougars while Colvin played the entire game in goal and recorded 18 saves, despite giving up three goals.

For their final game of the season, Niwot faced the number three team in class 4A in the 14-1 Windsor Wizards. The Cougars were slightly outmatched in the game and ended up losing 5-0, but the experience in facing such a good team will help in the upcoming playoffs.

With the playoff bracket now released, Niwot knows they don’t have the easiest road ahead of them. First up is a game against the 11-3 D’Evelyn Jaguars Wednesday, May 11. If they get past the first round, the Cougars will likely be facing number one overall seed Lewis-Palmer in the second round.

Niwot 3 5 – 8

Roosevelt 0 0 – 0

At Roosevelt High School

Goals – Niwot: Sypher (3), Barkow (2), Stobbe, Melara, Jeske.

Assists – Niwot: Sypher, Barkow (2), Stobbe, Miller, Ramirez-Tapia, McCarthy, Jeske.

Goalies (Min-Goals allowed-Saves) – Niwot: Colvin 40-0-1, Stortz 40-0-1.

Niwot 0 1 – 1

Ralston Valley 0 3 – 3

At Ralston Valley High School

Goals – Niwot: Gray. Ralston Valley: Giambrocco (2), Kaiser.

Assists – Niwot: McCarthy. Ralston Valley: Heffley, Guerrero, Kaiser.

Goalies (Min-Goals allowed-Saves) – Niwot: Colvin 80-3-18. Ralston Valley: 80-1-9.

Niwot 0 0 – 0

Windsor 2 3 – 5

At Windsor High School

Goals – Windsor: Cockroft, Bliesmer, Koenig, Vergara, Kingsbury.

Assists – Windsor: Gearhart (2), Koenig, Kingsbury.

Goalies (Min-Goals allowed-Saves) – Niwot: Colvin 80-5-8. Windsor: Moran 40-0-4, Slocomb 40-0-4.