Columbine High School’s girls soccer team has started the season with two wins, securing victories before incoming snow affected spring sports in Colorado. The Rebels defeated Highlands Ranch 3-0 at Lakewood Memorial Field, bringing their record to 2-0 during the first week of regular play.
“You don’t want to start 0-2, so 2-0 is perfect,” said Columbine coach Brian Todd after the team’s second consecutive shutout win. “We have two games under our belt with two games next week. So far I’m pleased with the start. We have to work on some things like all teams do, but I’m proud of this group. I think they’ll be pretty solid.”
Earlier in the week, Columbine won its opener against Heritage 2-0, with goals from junior Mackenzie McCoy and sophomore Kendyl Dirschl. Senior goalkeeper Ella Rieben recorded a shutout.
On Thursday night, both teams remained scoreless through the first half against Highlands Ranch. “Everyone was frustrated towards the end of the first half,” said senior Avery Bostwick. “We just came out with a different kind of energy at halftime. We started playing as a team.”
Senior Abbi Giedt scored early in the second half, followed by Bostwick’s goal in the 60th minute and Dirschl’s second goal of the season six minutes later.
“I think we are moving the ball really well and we have Abbi (Giedt) back,” Bostwick said. “Abbi is very strong with the ball and good at playing those through balls.”
Last year, Columbine finished second in Class 5A Jeffco League with a record of 10-4-3 but scored only 24 goals over that span. Coach Todd believes this year’s squad could improve offensively: “I think we have a chance to be more offensive and produce more goals this year,” he said. He also noted that several players had been dealing with illness but were starting to recover.
Defensively, Columbine has not allowed any goals so far this season. Against Highlands Ranch, Rieben and fellow senior Ashlyn Hale each played one half as goalkeeper.
“It’s awesome. I think we are off to a really great start,” Bostwick said about her team’s performance so far. “We have a really young team. A really good team with a great group of seniors. I think we are going to have a great season.”
Looking ahead, league play begins in over a month, but winning the conference remains an important goal for Columbine.
“It’s there the whole season,” Bostwick said regarding aspirations for winning the league title. “We obviously want to make it all the way to state. Winning that league title will give us the confidence to where we really need to be.”
Columbine last won five consecutive conference titles between 2014 and 2018; meanwhile, Ralston Valley seeks its third straight championship and has not lost a league game since 2023.
