Rarely does a Mullen team come from nowhere, but Jay McClain’s Mustangs are the surprise of the soccer finals.
Young and undergoing yet another coaching change this spring, Mullen was considered at least a year away from doing what it is now.
The seventh-seeded Mustangs (16-2-1), in just their second season at Class 5A, will take on perennial power and No. 4 seed Arapahoe (16-3) tonight at Legacy Stadium to bring the 2005-06 prep season to an end.
The 4A final will kick things off today in Aurora when No. 2 Ralston Valley (17-2-1) and fourth-seeded Broomfield (15-2-2) go after their first state title in girls soccer at 5 p.m.
Mullen has three state titles at the 4A level and was 10-5-2 last season before McClain – the longtime boys coach – took over following the departure of Justin Rose.
The Mustangs have senior experience in Toni McClain, Kaitlyn May and Shelby Engelbert, but their youth – Danielle Foxhoven and Hannah Peterson in particular – makes them unpredictable and dangerous.
Against Arapahoe, which already has eight titles since the sport was sanctioned in 1978, speed should be a constant from both squads.
The Warriors are loaded at every position and have been strong in goal with sophomore Katherine Liebetrau.
Mary Zapapas, who can play defense and midfield, runs Arapahoe’s engine room, while all-state seniors Kelly Menachof and Lindsay Stein give the Warriors two versatile attackers that can play and finish from all spots of the field.
Arapahoe’s eight seniors should have extra motivation after losing to Mountain Vista in last season’s final on penalty kicks.
Like McClain, Arapahoe coach Kirk Bast will have his daughter on the pitch in freshman midfielder Kaitlin Bast, who assisted on the opening goal in a 4-0 thrashing of Fort Collins in the quarterfinals.
In 4A, Broomfield is loaded with skill (Amanda Kafer, Amanda Foulk) but the Eagles’ scrappiness has carried them.
The only team to beat the Eagles this season is Niwot, which Ralston Valley dispatched 2-0 in the Saturday’s semifinals.
Under coach Stephanie Carpenter, the Mustangs have won 80 games since 2002, but their eight losses in that span seem to attract the most attention. The Mustangs never had been to the semifinals before Saturday and are undefeated against 4A competition this season.
Ralston Valley is talented from top to bottom with midfielders Keely Hogan, Katrina Hartfield, Sara Nicholson, Lindsey Chao and goalie Theresa Bagby.
