Columbine girls soccer edges Arvada West at NAAC

ARVADA — Columbine girls soccer got its scoring from a bit of an unlikely source Monday at the North Area Athletic Complex.

Freshman defender Kendyl Dirschl scored her first two goals of her young high school career to give the Rebels a 2-1 victory over Arvada West.

“Two really big goals. To really good shots,” Columbine coach Brian Todd said of Dirschl doing all the scoring for the Rebels in the big Class 5A Jeffco League game. “She has that in her. She probably has to pull the trigger more often now and she probably will after what she did today.”

Columbine (5-2-3, 2-0-0 in league) struck early to take the lead. Dirschl scored her first career goal 48 seconds into the match. The freshman fired a shot from distance that sailed out of reach of A-West senior goalie Hayden Briscoe just 48 seconds into the game.

“I just saw the openings and decided to hit it,” Dirschl said of her goals from her defensive position in the 1st and 62nd minutes.

A-West (6-4, 0-2) got on the board late in the first half. The Wildcats’ leading goal scorer — senior Gigi Grieve — put in her 14th goal of the season in the 31st minute to tie things up at 1-1 going into halftime.

Dirschl’s goal in the 62nd minute sailed over the head of A-West senior goalie Lexi Tancredo, who played the second half for the Wildcats in net.

“(A-West coach Dan Watkins) does a good job coaching no matter what group he’s got,” Todd said. “We knew it would be tough against A-West. They made it hard on us.”

The win will make it tough for A-West to contend for a conference title with an 0-2 start. Columbine remained atop the league standings with Valor Christian (5-1-1, 2-0-0) and Ralston Valley (7-0-2, 2-0-0).

“It gives us a big boost honestly,” Dirschl said after the Rebels’ second straight victory. “Now I feel like we can beat anyone if we set our minds to it. We are the team that can win the league title and make a run at state.”

Scoring has been a bit of an issue for the Rebels. Columbine has scored 13 goals in its first nine games.

“We had a great day last week against Chatfield. We really came alive and played some good soccer. We scored some good goals,” Todd said of the 5-0 victory over the Chargers last week. “I was hoping that would replicate itself today, but we were a little flat today.”

Columbine and A-West will both return to conference play at Lakewood Memorial Field on Thursday, April 17. The Rebels square off against Lakewood at 5 p.m. The Wildcats will face Chatfield at 7 p.m.

“I think we are getting better,” Todd said. “I think more goal scoring chances are coming as the season comes along.”