COLORADO SPRINGS – Abby Rupert took control of the Class 2A girls soccer state title match with just two shots on Wednesday at Weidner Field.
Loveland Classical Schools capped a charmed playoff run with a dominant 3-0 win against Flatirons Academy. It was the first time in the eight years of the LCS program that it won more than one match in a postseason – and it took home its first trophy by topping the defending state champions.
With her first touch, Rupert gave LCS a 1-0 lead with a shot that bounced inside the far post. In the seventh minute she struck from distance again as LCS (16-3) took a 2-0 lead. The playmaking midfielder wrapped up her junior campaign with a team-leading 26 goals.
Emily Carman added a goal off a Rupert assist in the 63nd minute for the final margin. The plan was to launch shots on frame; early and often.
“I think that was a huge start for us,” said Rupert, who is listed as a striker, midfielder and forward on the Lions’ roster. “Coach told us to start out strong. He said, ‘just shoot, right off the bat, shoot right away.’ We wanted to just put shot-after-shot on the keeper and we did that. Credit to our team because we came out so strong, I was just on the right end of it.”
As she took up and excelled at each position throughout the match, Rupert said she does have a preference in the Lions’ formation.
“I love playing everything,” Rupert said. “I want to go wherever coach needs me. But, preferably, if I got my pick, I’d play striker because in most games that’s where you get the most opportunities to score.”
Even as the pace slowed after the initial outburst, the Lions kept their shape and the defensive backline thwarted any sustained offensive threats from the Bison (13-4-2). LCS yielded three first-half corners, but none led to high danger scoring opportunities for Flatirons. The Lions held a 2-0 halftime edge and came out of the locker room firing.
Another Rupert shot sailed over the crossbar and Kaelyn Doan fired a half chance wide of the pipes in the 43rd minute. LCA held a 21-5 advantage in shots and an 11-3 lead in shots on goal. The Bison didn’t manage a shot on frame until the second half.
In the 64th minute a Bison free kick from 25 yards out was sent curling past the LCS wall and into the mixer only for Rupert to issue the clearance and set up a throw in across midfield. The junior was all over the field as she commanded an extra defender and weaved her way into each offensive possession.
Rupert’s long ball in the 62nd minute sailed over the top of the Bison defense and was controlled by Carman who weaved through two defenders, drew out the Flatirons’ goalkeeper and walked a rolling ball across the goal line.
“Abby does a little bit of everything,” LCS coach Juan Orozco said. “In order for her to play the way she does her cardio has to be insane. She’s taken the time and done the extra work. I think she is a unique person because she has so much endurance.”
She might not have a steadfast position, but she can call herself a state champion.
(Eric Brown/ebrownfoto.com) More photos.
