LITTLETON — Thanks largely to the addition of freshman Lauren Conley and the good health of sophomore Alex Anthony, the Arapahoe girls soccer team has the look of a group that has successfully reloaded on the fly.
Arapahoe, last year’s Class 5A state runner-up, continued its impressive start to the 2011 campaign on Saturday, combining the emerging Anthony-to- Conley connection with a clutch late goal from senior Shannon Koundourakis to beat Dakota Ridge 2-1 in the final of the 22nd annual Warrior Invitational.
Anthony, who missed much of last season with an injury, assisted on Conley’s first-half goal, and Koundourakis delivered the winner with 5:07 remaining, allowing the second- ranked Warriors to improve to 4-0. The Anthony-to-Conley combination also provided the Warriors with their only goal during their semifinal win against Denver East on Friday.
“(Anthony) has tremendous experience, reads the game so well and is as great a passer as she is a finisher,” Arapahoe coach Kirk Bast said. “Lauren Conley has put herself in goal- scoring opportunities for a few games now, and yesterday and today she scored two great goals for us.
“(Koundourakis) is probably one of the most savvy players in the state. She has such great feet and great technical ability.”
Dakota Ridge, which opened the season by rallying from two goals down to tie top- ranked Mountain Vista before posting impressive wins over Heritage and defending state champion Fairview, pulled even when Marie Egan punched home a loose ball in the 66th minute.
Koundourakis headed a feed from Stella Norman into the corner of the net after a corner kick.
Dakota Ridge 0 1 — 1
Arapahoe 1 1 — 2
Goals — Conley, A (Anthony), 17th minute; Egan, DR (unassisted), 66th minute; Koundourakis, A (Norman), 75th minute. Shots on goal — DR, 3-1—4; A, 2-5—7; Saves — DR (Milhollan 4); A (McGough 3). Corner kicks — DR, 1-2—3; A, 0-3—3. Fouls — DR, 8-4—12; A, 5-6—11. Yellow cards — A, Oii, Norman.
