Littleton – Sometimes, going it alone is the only way to go.
Arapahoe midfielder Kelly Menachof scored the game-winner Wednesday night at Littleton Public Schools Stadium after a swerving run down the middle of the field to give the Warriors a 1-0 victory over Palmer in the Class 5A state quarterfinals.
Menachof got the ball almost 40 yards outside the goal and blazed straight at the heart of the Palmer defense with teammates on either flank. The junior turned right inside the box and was pushed to her left before she cut a shot against the grain with her left foot.
“I noticed at the beginning of the game, when I would dribble at them they would keep dropping,” Menachof said of the Terrors’ defenders. “I saw Lauren (Cavarra), but I decided to go myself.”
The third-seeded Warriors (16-1-1) extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games, notched their 13th shutout of the season and set up a semifinal showdown against Continental League rival Heritage on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Legacy Stadium.
The Warriors dominated much of the first half but were outshot 3-0 in the second half as Palmer had better luck trying to spring its direct counterattack.
The No. 6 Terrors nearly leveled the match in the 70th minute when Laura Franco chipped a looping shot over goalie Dawn Barone that struck the inside of the right post and careened across the open goal mouth.
“My heart went in my throat when it hit the post,” Arapahoe coach Kirk Bast said. “I thought it was going wide and it had this funky spin on it.”
Palmer (12-4-2), which was knocked out of the playoffs by Arapahoe in 2003, lost for the first time in 11 games.
“I think we gave Arapahoe a run for their money,” Palmer coach Jim Keller said. “I don’t think a lot of people really anticipated us doing that.”
Palmer had the game’s first scoring opportunity when Crystal Townley got loose down the right side with a nice through ball in the sixth minute. Barone came off her line and Townley could only blast her shot straight into her.
The Warriors responded with more possession and began to put the Terrors on the defensive.
Palmer 0 0 – 0
Arapahoe 1 0 – 1
Goal – Menachof (unassisted), 18th minute.
Shots on goal – Palmer 1-3 – 4; Arapahoe 2-0 – 2. Saves – Palmer (Parrinella) 1-0 – 1; Arapahoe (Barone) 1-3 – 4. Offsides – Palmer 1-0 – 1; Arapahoe 1-1 – 2. Corner kicks – Palmer 1-0 – 1; Arapahoe 4-1 – 5. Fouls – Palmer 6-5 – 11; Arapahoe 7-3 – 10. Yellow cards – Townley, P, 60th; Amsberry, A, 72nd.
