Kadets win shootout to advance in 5A soccer playoffs

No. 8 seed Air Academy prevailed 4-3 in a shootout to beat No. 24 Poudre 2-1 in a thrilling 5A girls soccer playoff game and the send the Kadets into the second round of the playoffs at home against No. 9 Fairview on Saturday.

Brittany Harvey's score made it 4-3 and freshman goalkeeper Melinda Alvey made a key save to win the shootout, 4-3.

"I'm nauseous right now," said Kadets coach Nancy Sibley. "I feel sick and I think I aged five years during this game."

The game was still tied at 1 after two 15-minute overtimes. Alvey came up big for the Kadets (12-2-2) with three saves.

Alvey, a junior varsity goalie came in during the second half after Caitlyn Moses re-aggravated a hand injury on a save. It was Alvey's fourth varsity game and her teammates couldn't have been more proud.

"Melinda did awesome for us, especially during the penalty kicks," said senior Kelly Browne.

Browne opened the scoring in the first half on an assist from Maddy Hays, who later suffered a leg injury in the second half that forced her out of the game.

Her status is unknown, but Sibley said she did not tear her anterior cruciate ligament.

"The girls were absolutely quiet in the locker room during halftime and that's never happened before," said Sibley. "Every time they took the field they chanted ‘Maddy'; her presence was missed."

Liza Mathews scored in the second half for Poudre (7-6-3) to tie the game.

"After Maddy left the game we kind of slowed down," said Browne. "But we were able to pick it back up again."

Sibley was not surprised at the effort from both teams, but happy with the outcome.

"We knew this was going to be a tough game," she said. "They play Rocky Mountain and Fort Collins and it was just tough."