Girls Soccer: Stobbe scores two as Cougars cruise in season-opener

If you ask Niwot girls soccer coach Stephen Dimit which half was better for his team in their 3-0 win over the Skyview Wolverines, you might get a surprising answer. In a burst of opening-day excitement, the Cougars scored three goals in quick-succession early on, essentially winning the game before Skyview players knew what hit them. But in the second half, the Cougars played at a more disciplined pace, and Dimit sees this as a better measure of his team’s strength.

“We were all surprised to get three goals really, really fast,” he said. “We hadn’t worked into our actual game plan at all.

In the second half, we were able to put some things together and we got more confident,” he continued. “We didn’t score, but we were on the ball for almost the entire time.”

Senior forward Kailee Stobbe picked up where she left off last year, leading the Cougars with two goals and four points on the day. For Dimit, it was just par for the course for his star.

“She just makes goals happen out of nothing,” said the coach. “That’s what special about Stobbe.”

Junior Sage Marten (F) had Niwot’s other goal, and also had an assist. Dimit said that he was pleased to see the junior step-up on the left side.

“We needed someone with speed and intensity, and she gave us that,” he said. “She brings a lot of energy, and she’s off to a really great start this season.”

Junior Roxie Pasma (D) got her first assist of the season, and senior Charlotte McCarthy (MF) had five total shots, including three on goal. Junior Allie Colvin played keeper for all 80 minutes, and had two saves. Missing in the lineup was senior mid-fielder Maddie Barkow, who is out indefinitely with a high-ankle sprain.

Despite the convincing win, Dimit said his team is clearly in early season form, and there is definitely room for improvement.

“We had some opportunities to score in the second half, and we weren’t connecting that final pass,” the coach said. “We’re going to work on cleaning that up this week.”

He said they’ll need to if they hope to beat their next opponent, Standley Lake.

“They’re a good team and they should be in the playoffs,” Dimit said of the Gators, who were 9-7 in 2016, and ousted in the first round of the Class 4A tournament by Pueblo Centennial. “It should be a good test for us, to show us not only what we’re doing well, but also what we need to work on as we approach league play.”

Niwot goes up against Standley Lake on Mar. 14. The Cougars face Skyline on the road on Mar. 21.

3/9 — Niwot 3, Skyview 0

Wolverines (0-1) 0 0 — 0

Cougars (1-0) 3 0 — 3

Goals — Kailee Stobbe (2), Sage Marten (1)

Assists— Sage Marten (1), Roxie Pasma (1)

Goalies (Min-Goals allowed-Saves) — Allie Colvin (80-0-2)