Friday's roundup: Cheyenne Mountain, Palmer Ridge coast into girls' soccer quarterfinals

Highlights from Friday's high school sports action in the Pikes Peak region:

GIRLS’ SOCCER

4A state round of 16

No. 1 Cheyenne Mountain 5, No. 16 Thompson Valley 1

At Cheyenne Mountain: Cheyenne Mountain faced just its second deficit of the year when a through ball set up an early goal for Thompson Valley.

But the 1-0 hole didn’t last long.

Haley McFarlane and Sarah Rossi scored goals within 4 minutes of each other and Ellen Smith added another 6 minutes later as the Indians stormed ahead 3-1 at halftime and cruised.

“We came out a little bit flat and they got a goal on us real quick,” said coach Tomas Martinez, whose team also recovered from its other deficit this season (2-0 at Broomfield, where it won 3-2). “After that we woke up a little bit and started working the ball around.”

Indians starting goalie Sarah Schneider returned for the first time since injuring her hip against Air Academy on May 1. Schneider played the first half and freshman Hunter Peifer played the final 40 minutes.

Janae Vander Ploeg and Hannah Gerdin scored second-half goals for the Indians.

Cheyenne Mountain will host Valor Christian at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the quarterfinals. It will be a rematch of an Indians’ 2-1 road victory on March 15.

“It’s nice to play all these top teams and know what we’re expecting,” said Martinez, who also has victories this season over quarterfinalists Air Academy, Broomfield and Palmer Ridge. “We’ll definitely be ready for it.”

No. 3 Palmer Ridge 4, No. 19 Wheat Ridge 0

At Monument: Palmer Ridge poured it on with three second half goals, which was plenty of cushion for the state’s stingiest defense.

The Bears – who have allowed three goals in 17 games – scored just once in the half, but it came in the first 10 minutes and gave the team all the confidence it needed.

“We’re still playing really good defense,” said coach Nick Odil, who got another shutout behind two saves from Morgan Buzzell. “That’s huge. We always feel like if we get one goal, that’s probably going to be enough.”

By the time Palmer Ridge finished scoring – goals came from Mackenzie Gouner, Taylor Schnorr, Madi Tomiello and Meagan Watson – Wheat Ridge (6-9-2) was safely in the distance.

“We didn’t really play our best soccer in the first half and let them hang around a little,” Odil said. “We made some adjustments in the second half and really took it to them.”

Palmer Ridge, which is about to graduate just its second class, is now a win away from its second consecutive 4A semifinal berth. It will host either Pueblo South or Niwot for a spot in the state’s final four.

Odil said this year’s team seems like a bigger threat to break through into the state finals or beyond.

“We’ve got more experience,” Odil said. “The girls know what this is all about. On top of that, we’ve really added quite a bit of talent to the team.”

No. 5 Air Academy 8, No. 12 Glenwood Springs 0

Details to follow

No. 9 Valor Christian 4, No. 8 Lewis-Palmer 1

At Monument: Valor Christian (10-4-3) posted a road victory and eliminated Lewis-Palmer (11-5-1).

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

No. 6 ThunderRidge 16, No. 11 Cheyenne Mountain 13

At Highlands Ranch:  ThunderRidge (13-3) won at home, eliminating Cheyenne Mountain (11-5).