
GREENWOOD VILLAGE | Tari Wood sees the similarities between her current Grandview girls soccer team and the program’s 2008 version.
If that’s the case, the veteran coach has a potential championship on the horizon.
With budding young talent and some key figures of experience, the Wolves advanced to the semifinals of the Class 5A state tournament — where they haven’t been since that 2008 season that produced the program’s first and only state title — with a 3-0 quarterfinal victory over No. 23 Chaparral at Stutler Bowl.
Sophomore Nicole Lyubenko netted what turned out to be the game-winning goal follow a flub by the Wolverines’ goalie in the first half for second-seeded Grandview, which joined No. 1 Mountain Vista, No. 3 ThunderRidge and No. 4 in the May 16 semifinal round. Mountain Vista meets Broomfield in the first semifinal at 11 a.m. at Legacy Stadium, followed by a 1:30 p.m. contest between Grandview and ThunderRidge, which downed No. 11 Cherry Creek 4-1.
Junior Mandi Duggan added an insurance goal early in the second half and was credited with her second assist of the game when freshman Morgan Szarka netted a late goal to put the finishing touches on the result.
Senior goalkeeper Maddie Lesjak stopped all four shots she faced as Grandview’s seemingly-impenetrable defense posted its 10th shut out in the past 11 games.
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
(2) GRANDVIEW 3, (23) CHAPARRAL 0
Score by halves:
Chaparral 0 0 — 0
Grandview 1 2 — 3
SCORING
First half
Grandview — Nicole Lyubenko (Mandi Duggan)
Second half
Grandview — Duggan
Grandview — Morgan Szarka (Duggan)
Grandview saves: Maddie Lesjak (4 shots on goal-4 saves)
