Columbine’s lone goal holds up on the soccer pitch in win over Dakota Ridge

LAKEWOOD — Goals have been at a premium so far this season in games involving Columbine’s girls soccer squad.

For the third game in a row the Rebels found themselves in a 1-goal game. Columbine edged area-rival Dakota Ridge 1-0 on Monday at Lakewood Memorial Field.

“This is not the goal,” Columbine coach Brian Todd said after another 1-goal scoring output. “We need to be better.”

The Rebels (2-1 record) now have 1-0 victories over Highlands Ranch and Dakota Ridge. Columbine loss was a 1-0 defeat to Heritage a week ago.

The lone goal Monday came off the foot of Columbine senior Maddie Wallner in the 17th-minute of the first half. Freshman Charlotte Dailey picked up the assist on Wallner’s goal.

“Maddie did a great job splitting two players and finding the finish on the far post,” Todd said. “Keeper almost had it, but it was a good finish.”

Wallner was the Rebels’ leading goal scorer a year ago with 13 tallies during Columbine’s season that ended with a 9-6-1 record.

“I just love taking the ball and seeing what I can do with it,” Wallner said. “I love taking shots and doing whatever I can do to help the team.”

Dakota Ridge sophomore goalie Riley Mulberry kept the Rebels from extending their lead in the second half, but Columbine junior goalie Ella Rieben kept the Eagles off the scoresheet completely.

“I think we are going to be really strong defensively this year. We have good shape,” Todd said. “We have good balance and continuity right now early in the season, but at times it is keeping us from getting numbers up. We are playing a little safe.”

Dakota Ridge (2-1) nearly tied the game in the final seconds. Senior Ava Arnold fired a rocket that just sailed over the crossbar with under 10 seconds remaining.

“It looked like it was going in,” Dakota Ridge coach Paul Moline said of Arnold’s shot in the final seconds. “A foot lower and it would probably be in.”

Moline is in his first year at the helm of Dakota Ridge’s girls soccer program. He has been a coaching mainstay in Jeffco since the 1990s with stops at various programs across Jeffco. He was an assistant coach for Arvada West’s girls soccer team last spring.

“We had moments. We are still learning our system and how to play together,” Moline said after the Eagles’ first loss. “It is just taking some time.”

Dakota Ridge got wins over area-rival Chatfield last week, along with an impressive 10-0 victory over Vista Peak Prep. The Eagles stay busy with a non-league game against Lakewood on Wednesday, March 12, back at Lakewood Memorial Field.

“It is a lot of games in a small amount of time,” Moline said of the Eagles playing four games in seven days before Spring Break. “It is part of spring sports.”

The Eagles are just two years removed from winning the 4A state title in 2023. Moline actually coached D’Evelyn to the 4A girls soccer title in 2017, so he is very familiar with how tough the 4A Jeffco League has been historically. Evergreen is the defending 4A state champion.

“It is crazy how good that league is,” Moline said of the 4A Jeffco. “We have to stay healthy. I’m pretty confident in our ability. We have some pretty dangerous players.”

Columbine should be in the mix for the 5A Jeffco League race.

“Really the goal right now is to get better each and every time we go out,” Todd said. “There is a lot of promise and potential in this team, but it is going to come slow. Hopefully be (state) tournament time we are clicking.”