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COLORADO SPRINGS — For the second time in four seasons, the Windsor girls soccer team did not lose a state championship in 80 minutes of regulation. Or even 30 minutes across two overtime periods.
This was penalty-kick heartbreak yet again for the Wizards.
For Evergreen, it was elation. The top-seeded Cougars made it two straight Colorado Class 4A state championships with a thrilling 4-3 penalty-kicks comeback win after a 1-1 double-overtime draw May 20 at Weidner Field.
"You can’t prepare for it to end like that. There’s nothing you can say," Windsor head coach Mike Lordemann said.
Unfortunately for Lordemann and the Wizards, there was precedent.
An outstanding Windsor senior class had already been through this once, falling on penalties to Northfield in the 2022 4A title game.
"To go through this again, that's as tough as it gets," Lordemann said. "They had a state championship snatched from them."
"My freshman year, it was the same thing," Windsor goalkeeper Leah Bacon added. "The seniors were the only ones there for that. We wanted redemption."
Redemption was absurdly close. Almost fully in their grasp, even.
No. 3 Windsor led 3-1 through the first three-and-a-half penalty rounds and needed only a make or a single Evergreen miss in the final two turns.
After Evergreen made it 3-2, Bacon actually took the Wizards' final PK and was stopped by her counterpart.
"It’s so mental, so tough in that moment to (kick)," Bacon said. "You have to flick a different switch on really fast."
The Wizards actually caught a bad break just before penalties, when star midfielder Ella Crotts went down with a knee injury. She would have been one of Windsor's primary PK options, forcing a reshuffled lineup.
After the Cougars tied it 3-3 on a do-or-die kick, though, there was more free soccer.
Windsor senior Brooklyn Jiricek then sailed a sixth attempt over the bar. Suddenly, the Wizards were facing defeat.
And Evergreen's Stella Johnson delivered the dagger, sneaking a ball off Bacon's outstretched hands into the top left corner of the net for the game-winner.
"I thought we were in great shape," Lordemann said. "Give Evergreen credit. They were down two and made it happen."
The Wiedner Field lights flashed in celebration. Evergreen players and coaches poured onto the field. Bacon lay temporarily motionless on the turf near the net.
Not for long, though, as teammates rushed from midfield to console and rally around her.
The moment reflected Windsor soccer's main motto this season: WEO FEO (With Each Other, For Each Other).
"I feel so loved, from coaches to my teammates to fans to parents," Bacon said. "We've never been closer as a team. We’re OK because we have each other."
Maybe it didn't feel like that in the immediate aftermath. But the sentiment was obvious through tears and extra-poignant post-game hugs, as Windsor players laughed through the pain with each other and adoring fans.
There was so much to appreciate from this season.
A 16-4 year despite arguably Colorado's toughest schedule for a 4A team, all while allowing just seven goals in 20 matches. The runner-up trophy. Deepening a tight team culture. Plus, a title match for the ages.
These two programs know each other well. They've met five times in the past 25 months, with Evergreen also winning playoff duels vs. Windsor in 2017 and 2024, the latter en route to last year's 4A state crown.
The Cougars have now won four girls soccer state titles, tied for 8th all time in Colorado history.
State soccer: Colorado Academy spoils Timnath's dream playoff run to win second straight 3A title
In every way, No. 1 vs. No. 3 lived up to the billing in an instant classic.
Windsor took the lead 20 minutes in on Braely Martinez's sensational left-footed finish off Ambry Plate's creative feed.
That 1-0 edge held up through halftime until 14 minutes into the second, when Evergreen's Elle Buenning headed in a perfectly-placed corner kick.
The final regulation minutes and both overtime periods played out through frayed nerves, each team achingly close to the clincher several times over.
The Cougars swarmed top Windsor scorer Tatum Gentry, denying her clean looks. Windsor still controlled the run of play in the extra periods with poised passing.
Equal parts drama and top-quality soccer from two of the state's best.
"Both teams did the state proud tonight. That was a great high school match. This is why you play the game," Lordemann said. "It was a special night."
One that Windsor players will remember forever. Maybe not fondly, but at least with pride in an all-out effort.
"We played so well. It's hard to not get the outcome you feel like you deserved," Bacon said.
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Evergreen outlasts Windsor for 4A soccer title in epic penalty kick battle
Continue reading...
This was penalty-kick heartbreak yet again for the Wizards.
For Evergreen, it was elation. The top-seeded Cougars made it two straight Colorado Class 4A state championships with a thrilling 4-3 penalty-kicks comeback win after a 1-1 double-overtime draw May 20 at Weidner Field.
"You can’t prepare for it to end like that. There’s nothing you can say," Windsor head coach Mike Lordemann said.
Unfortunately for Lordemann and the Wizards, there was precedent.
An outstanding Windsor senior class had already been through this once, falling on penalties to Northfield in the 2022 4A title game.
"To go through this again, that's as tough as it gets," Lordemann said. "They had a state championship snatched from them."
"My freshman year, it was the same thing," Windsor goalkeeper Leah Bacon added. "The seniors were the only ones there for that. We wanted redemption."
Redemption was absurdly close. Almost fully in their grasp, even.
No. 3 Windsor led 3-1 through the first three-and-a-half penalty rounds and needed only a make or a single Evergreen miss in the final two turns.
After Evergreen made it 3-2, Bacon actually took the Wizards' final PK and was stopped by her counterpart.
"It’s so mental, so tough in that moment to (kick)," Bacon said. "You have to flick a different switch on really fast."
You must be registered for see images attach
The Wizards actually caught a bad break just before penalties, when star midfielder Ella Crotts went down with a knee injury. She would have been one of Windsor's primary PK options, forcing a reshuffled lineup.
After the Cougars tied it 3-3 on a do-or-die kick, though, there was more free soccer.
Windsor senior Brooklyn Jiricek then sailed a sixth attempt over the bar. Suddenly, the Wizards were facing defeat.
And Evergreen's Stella Johnson delivered the dagger, sneaking a ball off Bacon's outstretched hands into the top left corner of the net for the game-winner.
"I thought we were in great shape," Lordemann said. "Give Evergreen credit. They were down two and made it happen."
The Wiedner Field lights flashed in celebration. Evergreen players and coaches poured onto the field. Bacon lay temporarily motionless on the turf near the net.
Not for long, though, as teammates rushed from midfield to console and rally around her.
The moment reflected Windsor soccer's main motto this season: WEO FEO (With Each Other, For Each Other).
"I feel so loved, from coaches to my teammates to fans to parents," Bacon said. "We've never been closer as a team. We’re OK because we have each other."
You must be registered for see images attach
Maybe it didn't feel like that in the immediate aftermath. But the sentiment was obvious through tears and extra-poignant post-game hugs, as Windsor players laughed through the pain with each other and adoring fans.
There was so much to appreciate from this season.
A 16-4 year despite arguably Colorado's toughest schedule for a 4A team, all while allowing just seven goals in 20 matches. The runner-up trophy. Deepening a tight team culture. Plus, a title match for the ages.
These two programs know each other well. They've met five times in the past 25 months, with Evergreen also winning playoff duels vs. Windsor in 2017 and 2024, the latter en route to last year's 4A state crown.
The Cougars have now won four girls soccer state titles, tied for 8th all time in Colorado history.
State soccer: Colorado Academy spoils Timnath's dream playoff run to win second straight 3A title
In every way, No. 1 vs. No. 3 lived up to the billing in an instant classic.
Windsor took the lead 20 minutes in on Braely Martinez's sensational left-footed finish off Ambry Plate's creative feed.
You must be registered for see images attach
That 1-0 edge held up through halftime until 14 minutes into the second, when Evergreen's Elle Buenning headed in a perfectly-placed corner kick.
The final regulation minutes and both overtime periods played out through frayed nerves, each team achingly close to the clincher several times over.
The Cougars swarmed top Windsor scorer Tatum Gentry, denying her clean looks. Windsor still controlled the run of play in the extra periods with poised passing.
Equal parts drama and top-quality soccer from two of the state's best.
"Both teams did the state proud tonight. That was a great high school match. This is why you play the game," Lordemann said. "It was a special night."
One that Windsor players will remember forever. Maybe not fondly, but at least with pride in an all-out effort.
"We played so well. It's hard to not get the outcome you feel like you deserved," Bacon said.
You must be registered for see images attach
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Evergreen outlasts Windsor for 4A soccer title in epic penalty kick battle
Continue reading...
