Colorado Springs – Kayla Smelker was in the right place with very little time.
The Pine Creek forward was pressuring the Cheyenne Mountain goal Thursday and had a defender play the ball right to her feet.
“I was like, ‘Oops, here’s my chance,”‘ Smelker said. “I didn’t know if it was going in. I thought I actually shanked it.”
Actually, it was perfect.
Smelker beat Indians goalie Caitlin Turner with a deft chip to the far post in the 77th minute to give Pine Creek a 1-0 victory and clinch the Eagles’ first Colorado Springs Metro League title at the Class 4A level.
“Every year we come out and we’re so close with everything,” Smelker said. “We just get that one bad bounce, that one bad kick or (penalty kick) and we don’t finish it. This year it has gone our way.”
Smelker’s goal was gravy since the Eagles needed just a tie to secure the league title. The Eagles utilized their outside midfielders to help defend and contain the speedy Indians, who outshot the Eagles 7-2 and had an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks at District 20 Stadium.
“I’m just proud,” Eagles coach John Frederick said. “They executed the game plan almost perfectly today.”
The fifth-ranked Eagles (13-2, 9-0) won their second straight and remain undefeated this season against 4A competition.
Of course, losing the league title may be a good omen for the second-ranked Indians (12-1-2, 7-1-1). Cheyenne Mountain finished second in league last season and went on to defeat Niwot for the state championship.
The best scoring opportunity in the first half fell to Pine Creek’s Chelsea Moss in the 22nd minute after a poor header from the Indians’ defense. Moss had a moment to measure a shot off the bounce but ripped it well wide.
Cheyenne Mountain’s best scoring chance came in the 59th minute on a curling 26-yard free kick from all-state defender KJ Jerman.
Cheyenne Mountain 0 0 – 0
Pine Creek 0 1 – 1
Goal – Smelker (unassisted), 77th minute. Shots on goal – Cheyenne Mountain 2-5 – 7; Pine Creek 0-2 – 2. Saves – Cheyenne Mountain (Turner) 0-1 – 1; Pine Creek (Flynn 22 minutes, Moore 78) 2-5 – 7.
Corner kicks – Cheyenne Mountain 4-4 – 8; Pine Creek 0-0 – 0. Offsides – Cheyenne Mountain 0-0 – 0; Pine Creek 1-0 – 1. Fouls – Cheyenne Mountain 4-6 – 10; Pine Creek 6-3 – 9. Yellow cards – None.
