Arvada West girls soccer stuns No. 3 Columbine

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAKEWOOD — It was de nitely a statement victory on the girls soccer pitch April 11 at Lakewood Memorial Field.

Arvada West methodically dismantled Columbine with a 6-1 victory in the Class 5A Je co League opener for both teams. e Wildcats (6-2, 1-1 in league) dominated possession and scoring chances against the Rebels, No. 3 in the CHSAANow. com rankings.

“It’s huge. I’m so happy right now,” Arvada West senior captain Ellie Pugliese said after the Wildcats handed Columbine (6-2, 0-2) its rst loss of the season.

e Wildcats scored six unanswered goals scoring in the 13th, 34th, 47th, 55th, 67th and 74th minutes to take a commanding 6-0 lead against Columbine that was o to its best start in decades.

Junior Kalli Ross got the scoring started with a de ection that got past Columbine freshman goalie Ella Rieben for a 1-0 lead for A-West.

e margin doubled with a great shot from sophomore striker Isabella Teran a few minutes before halftime.

“ e girls played really well. I was really impressed with them,” A-West coach Brian Fowkes said. “We got stunned by Lutheran a little bit. I think that helped us pull something together.” e Wildcats su ered their rst loss of the season last Saturday with a 3-1 loss to Lutheran, No. 4 in the 4A rankings.

It was more of the same in the second half with Pugliese scoring back-to-back goals. e senior bent a corner kick into the net to put AWest up 3-0.

“I honestly didn’t mean to do it,” Pugliese said of hooking her corner kick into the net. “She (Rieben) had kind of fumbled one before so I tried it again. It just went in.”

Pugliese scored again ripping a shot into the back of the net for a 4-0 lead. Junior striker Brooke Pavlich made it a 5-0 lead when she drew a yellow card and penalty kick in the 67th minute. Pavlick took the PK and rolled it into the net.

“I was so happy when I saw that one go in,” Pugliese said of Pavlich’s penalty kick. “ at’s Brooke. She just keeps trying. She is the hardest worker on our team I think.”

Senior Sophia Jaskolka-Brown made it a 6-0 lead in the 74th minute.

“I didn’t know we could put up that number (six goals), but I de -