Niwot girls soccer splits two games

The Cougar girls soccer team had a rough home opener against Erie High School on Thursday, March 27, but bounced back two days later with a dramatic last-second win over Steamboat Springs High School. These results bring Niwot High School to a 1-2-1 season record.

Against the Erie Tigers, Niwot struggled to find its rhythm as the Tigers controlled the game from the start. Erie wasted no time getting on the board, scoring just 10 minutes into the match. Despite Niwot's efforts to regroup, the Tigers struck again with 5:36 left in the first half, sending the Cougars into halftime down 2-0.

The second half brought more of the same, as Erie continued to pressure Niwot's defense. The Tigers added their third goal just over six minutes after halftime and did not stop from there, scoring twice more to make it 5-0 with under 10 minutes left. Despite the skewed score, the Cougars kept their composure, trying to find a scoring opportunity.

Niwot avoided a shutout when junior Rylie Fletemeyer found the back of the net with 7:16 remaining. While the final score was one-sided, head coach Stephen Dimit remained optimistic about his team's progress. "A bit lopsided, but we're on the right path," Dimit said.

That mindset proved crucial heading into Niwot's next game against Steamboat Springs on Saturday, March 29, at Everly-Montgomery Field in Longmont. This time, the Cougars showed resilience, battling through a defensive showdown that remained scoreless deep into the second half.

Both teams created chances but could not break through, and as the clock wound down, it seemed like the game would end in a 0-0 draw. Then, with just 20 seconds left, sophomore Ava Inguagiato delivered the moment Niwot had been looking for, scoring the game-winner, and giving the Cougars a hard-earned 1-0 victory.

Next up, Niwot will hit the road for two games before returning home. The Cougars face Severance High School (3-1-1) on April 1, followed by a matchup with Fort Morgan High School (0-6-1) on April 3. Niwot will then return home on April 5 to take on Cheyenne Mountain High School (1-2-1).