Aurora – Grandview showed the good and not- so-good sides of its youth movement on Tuesday.
The 13th-seeded Wolves were fast and fearless in the first half against Coronado, overwhelming the Cougars for two goals. In the second half, Grandview coasted on the narrow lead before a late goal sealed a 3-0 Class 5A first- round playoff victory at Legacy Stadium.
Sophomores Regina Thomas and Beth West and freshman Taylor Skogg all scored to push Grandview into the round of 16.
“I think you saw a classic example of a team that is really young,” Grandview coach Bruce Brown said.
The Wolves, who started five sophomores and just three seniors and missed the playoffs last season, won their fourth straight and improved to 11-5 with their eighth shutout of the season.
Grandview will face 2005 runner-up and No. 4 seed Arapahoe (13-3) after the Warriors defeated Legacy 6-0 on Tuesday.
Coronado (10-4-2), which lost its fourth straight, spent most of its time defending the rampant Wolves.
The 29th-seeded Cougars generated few moments of possession and didn’t register a shot on goal.
The only time Coronado threatened to test Wolves goalie Danica Hansen was on a run into the penalty area by Ashley Willis in the 39th minute.
“We played a better team tonight,” Coronado coach Rick Boese said. “They were very quick.”
The Wolves imposed their strategy from the start – crossing the ball over the Coronado defense and spreading the field with possession on the flanks.
Midfielder Becca Herrera finally broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute with a fine individual effort on the left flank. The sophomore cut back and forth three times trying to shake Alicia Vandersluis before crossing the ball into the heart of the 18-yard box where Thomas had plenty of space to head the ball into the net.
Grandview found the open space easier to come by as the first half wore on and continued to cut away at a Coronado defense that often had nine players behind the ball.
“I think we had some first-time jitters,” Herrera said. “Other than that, I think we really wanted it.”
After forcing four corner kicks and being whistled for offsides five times, Grandview doubled its advantage five minutes before halftime on a drive by West.
West launched a low shot from 30 yards out that skipped through the hands of substitute goalie Nikki Schroeder and trickled into the net.
Coronado 0 0 – 0
Grandview 2 1 – 3
Goals – Thomas (Herrera), 23rd minute; West (unassisted), 35th; Skogg (unassisted), 76th.
Shots on goal – Coronado 0-0 – 0; Grandview 3-5 – 8. Saves – Coronado (Bush 12 minutes, Schroeder 68) 1-4 – 5; Grandview (Hansen) 0-0 – 0. Corner kicks – Coronado 0-0 – 0; Grandview 4-4 – 8. Offsides – Coronado 0-0 – 0; Grandview 5-2 – 7. Fouls – Coronado 5-3 – 8; Grandview 10-7 – 17. Yellow cards – Grandview assistant coach Wiggs, G, 30th minute; Grandview coach Brown, G, 30th; West, G, 38th; Willis, C, 45th; Dengah, G, 64th; Collins, G, 64th.
