Englewood – The Pirates made themselves comfortably at home Thursday.
Playing at Pirate Stadium, the Colorado Springs-based St. Mary’s Pirates scored early and often in a 3-0 victory over Basalt in the Class 3A state semifinals.
Junior forward Julia Saenz scored two goals, her first in just the second minute, and midfielder Samantha Cardenas scored on a free kick to cap an impressive display from the young squad.
“I told Rachel (Niles) before the game ‘You know, let’s score early. We got to get on them fast’ and she did just a perfect pass,” Saenz said of her opening goal.
The third-seeded Pirates (14-3-1), who have just two seniors, advance to their first soccer state championship Saturday and will try to become the first public school to win a 3A title since Steamboat Springs in 1998.
St. Mary’s goalkeeper Katie Loof made five saves as the Pirates notched their fifth shutout of the season while avenging a 1-0 loss to the Longhorns on March 23.
After Saenz’s opener, the Pirates added a vital insurance goal in the 54th minute on Cardenas’ 27-yard free kick that hit Basalt goalie Dayne Toney in the hands, rolled off and into the goal.
Saenz erased any doubts as she roofed a bullet shot on a breakaway in the 73rd minute.
No. 2 Basalt (16-2) enjoyed the initial surge, but it was short-lived as the Pirates grabbed the advantage with their first counterattack.
Niles was loose down the left side with acres of space and the junior carried the ball to the Longhorns’ penalty area. Niles cut the ball back across the goal for Saenz to calmly redirect into the net.
The Pirates enjoyed the better chances immediately following before the Longhorns finished the first half with a flurry.
Basalt had a glorious opportunity to equalize in the 24th minute when Katheryne Fitzpatrick skipped through nearly the entire St. Mary’s defense for a breakaway. The junior ran the last 20 yards alone, but fired her point-blank shot straight into the legs of Loof, who was deep on her goal line.
“We tried hard,” Longhorns coach Chris Woods said. “It just wasn’t our day. Our touch was off today. It’s really disappointing when you don’t have your best game when you get this far.”
St. Mary’s 1 2 – 3
Basalt 0 0 – 0
Goals – Saenz (Niles), 2nd minute; Cardenas (free kick), 54th; Saenz (unassisted), 73rd. Shots on goal – St. Mary’s 5-5 – 10; Basalt 5-0 – 5. Saves – St. Mary’s (Loof) 5-0 – 5; Basalt (Toney) 4-3 – 7. Offsides – St. Mary’s 0-0 – 0; Basalt 0-0 – 0. Corner kicks – St. Mary’s 0-4 – 4; Basalt 1-1 – 2. Fouls – St. Mary’s 1-3 – 4; Basalt 4-2 – 6. Yellow card – Kuklenski, SM, 73rd minute.
