ENGLEWOOD — Erin Gunther scored a hat trick the hard way Saturday afternoon as top-seeded Silver Creek rolled into the Class 4A state final.
With two goals to her credit, the senior forward was hammered to the ground inside the Broomfield penalty area with nine minutes remaining and needed a moment to get up and collect herself.
Gunther took the honors on the subsequent penalty kick, blasting it home as the Raptors beat the Eagles 4-0 at Pirates Stadium.
“My hip hurt a little, but I was like, ‘Whatever . . . I’m not coming out,’ ” she said.
Silver Creek (18-0-1) will face Northern League rival Niwot (13-2-4) in the final Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
The Raptors overwhelmed the Eagles (13-3-2) with strong passing to all spots in the attacking third of the field, and their defense was organized and physical.
Broomfield starting goalkeeper Caitlin Updyke made a great save on Jacy Drobney to keep the Raptors at bay until the 31st minute.
Cassie Sheffield broke the deadlock when she ran on a great pass from the right side and got it to spin over Updyke’s sprawling body.
Gunther made it 2-0 at halftime when she volleyed home Kate Russell’s bouncing pass 17 seconds before the break.
Gunther notched her second on a long shot in the 61st minute past Eagles’ backup goalie Megan McCain.
Niwot 1, Golden 0
ENGLEWOOD — Junior midfielder Lauren Shaner drilled home a free kick in the 45th minute to send the Cougars to the 4A final.
Neither team established any dominance, and both had their share of half-chances before the Cougars (13-2-4) struck on a disputed call near the penalty area, two minutes after Golden’s Nicholette DiGiacomo had headed Ashley Johnson’s corner kick off the crossbar.
Niwot was given a free kick at the top of the penalty box, and Shaner struck it over the wall. The ball hit the crossbar and came down right on Demons goalkeeper Kaila Sutter and bounced in.
The 11th-seeded Cougars are in search of their first girls state soccer title since 1995. The No. 2 Demons ended their season 15-3-1.
Grandview 2, Cherry Creek 1 (OT)
ENGLEWOOD — The Wolves got another shot at an elusive state title after downing their Centennial League rival in overtime on a goal by senior striker Regina Thomas.
Grandview’s first goal came from all-Colorado standout Beth West to help put the top-seeded Wolves (15-0-1) in the final Tuesday at 5 p.m. against No. 2 Heritage. Despite years of being ranked around the top of Class 5A, the Wolves have yet to win a state title.
No. 5 Cherry Creek (14-3-2) got a goal from junior Arianne Heaton but was unable to get past Grandview for the second time this season.
Heritage 2, Rocky Mountain 0
ENGLEWOOD — Senior striker Abby Loar scored twice, both on assists by senior midfielder Taylor Nicholls, to put the fifth-seeded Eagles into the final after years of 5A semifinal losses.
