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Preps April 16: AHS girls soccer, lacrosse roll to easy wins

Now 10 games into the season, the Aspen High School girls soccer team seems to have finally settled into its lofty preseason expectations.

“I feel like we are less nervous,” AHS senior Ellie Oates said. “Last year and the first few games I was definitely really nervous, and I’m not as nervous in these recent games and that’s definitely helped.”

Playing much like the team that made the 3A state semifinals last spring, the Skiers rolled to another win Tuesday, this a 7-0 romp over visiting Coal Ridge on the AHS turf. It was 3-0 at halftime and never all that competitive.



Sophomore Kelley Francis led the way with three goals, while Oates had two. Junior Payton Curley and senior Clara Maxwell each chipped in a goal.

Zulieka Hanson and Ella Trane split time in net to help the Skiers to their fourth shutout in five games, and third straight.




“We’ve been communicating more,” AHS senior Jasmin Hanson said of the defense. “We’ve been trying to work on who gets the ball, who has players, and then who is going to go up with the ball and pass to the midfield. So we are trying to connect with the midfield.”

With the loss, Coal Ridge fell to 4-5-1 overall and 1-2 in 3A Western Slope League play.

Ranked No. 4 in 3A this week, Aspen improved to 8-2 overall and 5-0 in WSL play. The Skiers have won six straight, all coming since spring break.

Next up will be a Saturday morning home game against Faith Christian (4-5). The last time the Eagles came to Aspen was for the first round of the state playoffs last May, Payton Curley’s overtime goal giving AHS the 1-0 win.

Faith Christian also plays Friday at Basalt.

ASPEN GIRLS LACROSSE HANDLES GRAND JUNCTION

Much like its being doing all season, the Aspen High School girls lacrosse team made easy work of its opponent on Tuesday, beating Grand Junction 19-2 on Iselin Field in Aspen. The Skiers scored 11 goals by halftime and both of the Tigers’ goals came late when the game was well out of hand.

Charlotte Howie had a team-high five goals for Aspen, while Kylie Kenny and Sabrina Turbidy each had three. Six others had at least one goal. Howie also led the team with four assists.

Grand Junction fell to 4-6 overall. Aspen, ranked No. 9 in the state this week, remains perfect at 8-0 overall. The Skiers next host a struggling Montrose team on Thursday before a big non-league home matchup with Conifer (8-2) on Saturday.

BASALT BASEBALL GETS FIRST WIN, BEATS ASPEN

The Basalt High School baseball team got its first win under coach Rob Smith on Tuesday by beating rival Aspen 8-0 on the BHS field. The Longhorns scored three runs in the first inning and five in the fourth for the shutout win.

The teams had intended to play a doubleheader and got through six innings of the second game, Basalt leading 5-0, before it was called for darkness. Smith said the team was still waiting to hear from CHSAA on whether the second game score would stand or if the game would need to be completed.

Without factoring in the second game, the win improved Basalt to 1-6 overall, while Aspen fell to 0-10.

AHS GIRLS GOLF STRONG IN RIFLE

The Aspen High School girls golf team competed Tuesday at Rifle Creek Golf Course, hosted by Rifle High School. The Skiers finished third as a team in the 10-team tournament behind winner Grand Junction and Palisade. AHS senior Zoe Guthrie shot an 18-over 90 to finish in third place. Rifle’s Masi Smith and Grand Junction’s Brittlynn O’Dell each shot 10-over 82. Aspen’s Avery Hirsch shot 99 to tie for eighth, while Julia Higdon shot 109 to tie for 22nd.

acolbert@aspentimes.com