Marissa Ranberger is a dancer who just happens to have a soccer ball at her feet.
The nimble senior scored 30 goals last season, and her dominating spirit helped lead the Class 3A Faith Christian Eagles to an unlikely state championship against a loaded Denver Christian team.
Ranberger was the catalyst for the Eagles’ stretch run and was unstoppable in the final, notching a goal and an assist despite being swarmed by defenders.
Ranberger, who will be a Golden Eagle next season at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla., leads top-ranked Faith Christian after an elusive second consecutive title – something never done at the 3A level.
She has her dancing shoes on again and is ready for more.
“I surprise myself sometimes,” Ranberger said with a laugh. “I don’t know. I just go out there and play.”
With the ball at her feet, she can do anything – run around defenders, shoot past them or hypnotize them with a frenetic display of dribbling that is a mixture of intelligence, speed, grit, tenacity and chaos.
“She is kind of a handful at times, and you just don’t know really what to expect,” Eagles coach Will Lind said. “She doesn’t look really graceful at times on the ball, but she has ways to deceive an opponent.”
She also has a knack for making defenders look like Keystone Kops, luring them from the goal or into clumsy bunches.
“She gets them to bite,” Colorado Academy coach Owen Schreffler said. “She gets them to go with her in one direction, and then she goes into that space they just left because that’s what she wanted anyway.”
Along with standout midfielder Kathleen Paulsen and younger talented players in Sarah Jones, Danielle Stickland and Holly Hoguta, Ranberger is ready to embrace a season as the team to beat. Especially since the reality of winning a state title has started to sink in.
“Even now I’ll walk by the trophy at school and I’m like, ‘Did that happen?”‘ Ranberger said.
It most certainly did. Will it happen again?
The Eagles head up a Metropolitan League that should, once again, be the toast of 3A.
Kent Denver went 12-3-2 last season and brings back nine players, including standout midfielder Alex Marsh, along with a solid defensive group led by Suzanne Stawiarski.
Colorado Academy lost just two starters and will be a force with standout goalie Jessica Thalman, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. Schreffler also expects to get back Brown-bound attacker Kellie Slater after she spends March skiing.
“I’ll get her in April,” Schreffler said.
Denver Christian lost 10 seniors but has quite an anchor remaining in standout goalie Kiley Gill.
And why not Peak to Peak? The boys soccer team surprised everyone with the school’s first state title in the fall and the hockey team won state in February. Can the Pumas girls get in the mix?
Perhaps the biggest issue in the Metro is the fate of Lutheran, which had to nix its season because of a lack of numbers. Every team remaining has schedule holes to fill.
Things remain interesting outside of the Metro.
Alexander Dawson is the favorite in the Mile High League with nine returning starters, heading a pack that includes Heritage Christian, Maranatha Christian, Jefferson Academy and Academy of Charter, which has nine players back to try to erase the memory of a 1-13 season.
Fountain Valley in the Tri-Peaks League brings back eight starters from a 13-3 team that is relatively young but experienced. The Classical Academy, Colorado Springs Christian and St. Mary’s will be solid.
Class 5A
It will be interesting to see which rival blinks first – Heritage or Arapahoe. Both are loaded and are considered favorites in a 5A field that has a wide range of dynamic teams.
Heritage gets the No. 1 tag for good reason. The Eagles bring back 10 starters and should get the benefit of a healthy Kendra Chandhoke, who hardly played last season after sitting out for transferring from Mullen before getting injured.
Arapahoe has key players in attack, midfield and defense, but will have to rally around one of three goalies trying to fill the boots of departed stopper Dawn Barone.
The rivals head up the Continental League, which includes defending champions Mountain Vista along with a host of salty teams.
Chaparral could be an interesting addition to the mix under first-year coach Eric Rodriguez, who has a talented midfield in Kaitlyn Rogers (going to Seton Hall), Jessie Richardson (Arizona State) and sophomore Bri Young.
The Centennial League should be led by Cherry Creek and Grandview, although Smoky Hill and Eaglecrest will stick around.
The usual suspects head up the Jefferson County League – Chatfield, Columbine and Green Mountain.
Chatfield was an overwhelming favorite last season, lost in the state semifinals and returns just three starters. However, the Chargers have a long history of reloading with younger players and will be a threat despite rebuilding.
Green Mountain gets a new coach (Ken Fehr) and brings back eight starters, including a solid goal scorer in junior Tracy Dreesen. And if you’re looking for a fourth, why not Standley Lake, with 10 starters back?
Aurora Central should head up the Skyline League behind 35-goal scorer Ana Jacobo and eight returning starters.
In the city, John F. Kennedy should improve upon its 8-8 finish with forward Marci Johnson and defender Sara Joyce.
Fort Collins gets the early nod up north with eight starters returning, including a handful that played in the 2004 state final. The biggest hole to fill is that of graduated All-Colorado midfielder Alex Cousins.
“I feel pretty good in terms of the team we have coming back,” said Lambkins coach Jason Odorizzi, who won a state title with the boys team in the fall. “I think we’ll do quite well this year.”
City rivals Poudre and Rocky Mountain will not be far behind.
Palmer, with Alex Tagen, Crystal Townley and Emily Layton, is the team to beat in Colorado Springs and could develop into a title contender. Lewis-Palmer brings back eight starters from a 12-2-3 team and should push the Terrors along with Air Academy, Doherty and Coronado.
Fruita Monument, 14-1-2 last season, returns six starters to head up the Southwestern League.
Class 4A
Cheyenne Mountain’s drive to the state title was a pleasant surprise. The Indians stayed under the radar but proved in the final they were deeply talented. Nine of those starters return.
Liberty should give the Indians a run while Pine Creek and Sand Creek will keep everyone on their toes. Liberty will be young, but that group includes freshman Megan Dozier, a striker on the Olympic Development Team.
Broomfield brings back nine starters from last season’s state semifinalist team. Forwards Amanda Kafer and Amanda Foulk give the Eagles lots of punch, something they’ll need in a deep Northern League.
Behind the Eagles will be Niwot, a surprise finalist last season, along with Greeley West, Silver Creek and Fossil Ridge.
Greeley West is especially dangerous with its penchant for attacking with Laura Engel and Sara Hemmings.
An upstart perhaps under the radar, Fossil Ridge has nine returning starters and a burgeoning platform of youth and numbers – many coming at the expense of nearby 5A power Fort Collins.
In the Jefferson County League, the power should remain with Ralston Valley despite fairly dramatic turnover. The Mustangs are deep and talented but not as heavily favored in years past.
D’Evelyn’s second year in 4A should be better with a strong midfield and 10 returning starters, while Golden, behind electric forward Dale Ekberg, and Evergreen should make Jeffco interesting.
Cherokee Trail returns all 12 starters and could be another upstart to watch. The Cougars went 10-4-2 last season and have a good mix of experience to push for a Skyline League title with 5A Aurora Central.
Steamboat Springs, with Regis University-bound forward Kelly Labor, gets the nod on the Western Slope.
Speaking of Regis, the high school team should be improved, especially with ace Keelin Winters around.
