With their collection of tall, rangy midfielders and a spunky backline, the Alexander Dawson Mustangs make for a formidable soccer team. That was evident to Manitou Springs on Saturday night at All-City Stadium.
The Mustangs controlled the proceedings in their 2-1 Class 3A girls state semifinal victory over the team with a shared nickname.
Goals by Alyssa Beck and Olivia Wagner held up for Alexander Dawson, who will face St. Mary’s in the title game Tuesday. If Dawson wins, it will be the first girls state title in any sport in school history.
“It’s once in a lifetime. It’s amazing. It feels like we deserve it,” Wagner said.
Manitou Springs gained renewed hope when junior Cassy Marshall scored on a free kick with 13:04 left in the second half.
But Manitou Springs had trouble getting “numbers” on the Alexander Dawson defense, and when the final horn sounded, the victorious Mustangs hugged in big numbers.
“I think we started looking at the clock too much in the second half, but right toward the end we started to get it together again,” Wagner said.
Alexander Dawson coach Doug London saw the team break out in further jubilation when he told them the next game is at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. But he’s not worried about overexcitement.
“They’re a pretty composed group,” London said. “St. Mary’s will be a great challenge for us.”
Manitou Springs 0 1 — 1
Alexander Dawson 1 1 — 2
Goals — AD: Beck, sixth minute; AD: Wagner, 52nd; MS: Marshall, 76th minute.
St. Mary’s 2, Faith Christian 1 (SO)
It was a tremendous game. Only one team could win, and when Jennifer Ivan’s penalty kick sailed into the net under the twilight of All-City Stadium, that team was the St. Mary’s Pirates.
Ivan’s goal won the shootout for the Pirates in the victory over defending Class 3A champion Faith Christian, in a back-and-forth game that featured some unbelievable saves on both sides.
Faith Christian appeared to have the game won in the second overtime, when junior Kate Fonte bore in on Pirates goalkeeper Katie Loof and unleashed a shot that had far right post, back of the net written all over it. But Loof made a diving save, sending the game to the penalty-kickoff.
“I knew if we made it to the PK, we could win, because we’ve been a good team in them all year,” Ivan said. “Faith Christian played really hard and are so tough. But we’re really determined to go out and win this year.”
Becca Morales scored the only goal in regulation for St. Mary’s, and Ariane Lukens scored for Faith Christian.
Faith Christian 1 0 0 0 0 — 1
St. Mary’s 1 0 0 0 1 — 2
Goals —SM: Morales, 24th minute. FC: Lukens, 42nd.
(St. Mary’s wins shootout 3-2.)
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
