Martin posts hat trick in win over Northridge

The Niwot boys soccer team extended its win streak to eight with a 4-0 victory over the visiting Northridge Grizzlies (5-8-1) on Oct. 17. With the win, the Cougars improved to 10-4 on the season, and moved into a position to compete for the Northern League title, a prospect that seemed implausible just a month ago when the team was 2-4.

"We just had to iron some things out and work on some teamwork," head coach Steve Dimit said after the shutout, the Cougars' sixth of the year. "We weren't necessarily playing badly, we just weren't putting ourselves into some of those lucky situations that win games. The guys just really came together, particularly late into league play. The practice attitude's been really good, and the vibe's been good every day, and guys are starting to play a whole lot more for each other."

Nowhere is the improvement more evident than on the offensive side of the ball. During their eight game win streak, the Cougars scored 29 goals, compared to just eight over their first six games, with three different players having multi-goal games.

"We have a new star every game," Dimit said. "Everybody's stepping up and helping us win."

Junior Aidan Martin and his first varsity hat trick were the indisputable stars against Northridge, but he had help from sophomore Jake Elston, who struck first for the Cougars with his second goal of the year. Junior Keegan Stobbe also chipped in with a couple of assists, while seniors Caleb Serette and Jared Osteen also picked up points on the day.

"We just really put our attack together today, which I feel was a really big accomplishment," Martin said after his three-goal performance against the Grizzlies. "Me, Stobbe, Ish [Dominguez] and Jared were able to link our passes together today and really work off the ball with each other."

Martin agreed with Dimit's assessment of the Cougars' early season woes.

"Just our mentality in general is better," he said. "We definitely had the talent at the beginning of the season, but it was really just piecing together mentally what we needed to focus on in practice and in the games. In general, we're just more positive."

Niwot is currently ranked 14th in the Class 4A RPI standings with one game to go, which should be enough for a spot in the postseason. Round 1 of the state tournament will begin during the week of Oct. 28.

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10/17--Niwot 4, Northridge 0

Grizzlies (5-8-1, 3-5) 0 0 - 0

Cougars (10-4, 5-0) 3 1 - 3

Goals - Martin (3), Elston

Assists - Stobbe (2), Dominguez, Hansen, Osteen

Goalies (Min-Goals allowed-Saves) - J. Amaya (40-0-3), P. Rodriguez (40-0-1)