AURORA | Owning the run of play for virtually the entire game, the Cherokee Trail girls soccer team felt the sting of loss by set piece Friday evening.
Deadlocked 1-1 early in overtime in a Class 5A girls state soccer second round playoff contest at rainy, windy Legacy Stadium, No. 11 Cherry Creek used an awarded free kick to net the winning score in a 2-1 upset of the sixth-seeded Cougars.
Freshman Alesia Garcia scored the tying goal in the second half for Cherokee Trail and nearly scored several other times in regulation, but the Bruins — look for payback from a 2-0 loss to the Cougars in the regular season — managed to get the game to overtime.
Six minutes into the 15-minute extra session, Cherry Creek’s Alexa Groesser — who scored the first goal of the game — created the chance for the game-winning goal when officials ruled she was taken down by Cherokee Trail defender Hannah Edwards as the two chased after a loose ball just outside the goal box.
Instead of trying to shoot over the Cougars’ massive wall in front of the goal, Groesser slipped the ball to Meg Halvorson on the right wing and she put it inside the far post to end the game.
Still, coach Jeremy Schaller’s Cherokee Trail team posted its first 5A playoff win in the previous round — a 4-0 win over Liberty — and finished 14-3. Schaller expects 14 players to return next season for the Centennial League runners-up.
Garcia looks to be one of the rising stars, as the freshman striker scored the Cougars’ lone goal when she redirected sophomore Courtney Schmidt’s shot into the net for her ninth goal of the season.
Ten minutes later, Garcia hit a crossbar and had several other shots go just wide, while Cherokee Trail goalkeeper Taylor Heil made a big save on a Groesser shot at the other end to make sure the Bruins didn’t score in regulation.
Note: The game started an hour late due to a lightning delay that came about as teams were warming up. They returned to the field once the all clear signal was given and warmed up briefly before beginning the game without introductions.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
(11) CHERRY CREEK 2, (6) CHEROKEE TRAIL 1
Score by halves:
Cherry Creek 1 0 1 — 2
Cherokee Trail 0 1 0 — 1
SCORING
First half
Cherry Creek — Alexa Groesser
Second half
Cherokee Trail — Alesia Garcia (Courtney Schmidt)
Overtime
Cherry Creek — Meg Halvorson (Groesser)
Cherokee Trail saves: Taylor Heil (9 shots on goal-7 saves)
