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High School sports: The weird gets weirder in Vail Valley soccer

Chris Freud
Vail, CO Colorado

VAIL VALLEY, Colorado _ One goal.

It’s bigger than you think. If a soccer team takes 1-0 lead these days, it might as well be a 10-0 lead. That’s how close the 4A Slope soccer chase is this year.

We’ve had seven games now among Battle Mountain, Eagle Valley, Glenwood Springs and Steamboat Springs, yielding four ties and three 1-0 wins. Steamboat and Glenwood have played 180 minutes of soccer, including overtime and ended up with two scoreless draws. Glenwood played wonderfully twice against Battle Mountain, only to lose on goals with three minutes left and one in overtime.



One almost has to feel sorry for the Demons. OK, not really. I couldn’t type that with a straight face.

Seriously, back to one goal. We might be looking back at the Huskies’ Jack Sunderland’s and Connor Tedstrom’s markers against Glenwood as the ones which changed the season. Or just as likely who’s going to be the one and/or the team that steps up and makes that big play which could turn this season into more delightful chaos?

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Eagle Valley’s 1-0 loss to Steamboat Friday was painful. Honestly, that win was bigger for Steamboat. The Sailors tie or lose, and they’re likely out of the race for the title. That win would have been gravy for the Devils, who still control their destiny.

As Scarlett O’Hara reminds us in “Gone with the Wind,” “Tomorrow is another day.”

Well actually, today is another day as the Devils are in Glenwood for another biggie. I’ve said this before, but what makes high school soccer great is how the sport brings into focus adversity immediately and a team’s response to it.

Are the Devils going to bounce back today against the Demons? Can they make adjustments the second time around against Steamboat? I hope the answer is yes to both questions because:

• Yes, I do like this Eagle Valley soccer team, contrary to what some people might think. To that end, I’ll throw in some advice. Eagle Valley, you cannot play with four defenders back when you’re down 1-0 with 10 minutes to go. Yes, Steamboat was pressuring, and yes, you moved one from the midfield up to striker. Who cares if Steamboat wins 1-0 or 2-0? You have got to give yourself the chance to get the equalizer by taking out a fullback, putting an extra guy in the middle AND a third at striker. End sermon.

• And, I do want to see it all come down to Oct. 22 – Devils and Huskies at Edwards – on the final day of the season.

From the grab bag:

• Here’s to Austin Hinder and Steamboat Springs for knocking off Palisade, 28-21, Friday night. The quarterback was 23-for-28 for 259 yards and ran for another 100-or-so yards. He’s clearly legit. I can’t stand Palisade, so huzzah to the Sailors.

• Huzzahs (or Huzellas?) to Vail Christian football. The Saints have a two game winning streak going into Friday night’s game at Eagle Valley against Justice after dumping Gilpin County. This is a biggie, fellas. It’s also your last game under the lights. Make it count.

• OK, Eagle Valley football, you’re 0-0. It’s a new season after the bye. Moffat County’s been one of the strangest teams in the league, beating Berthoud, but losing to Delta, 20-0. What’s up with that? Time to break into the win column.

• We send our best out to Chris Libertini of Battle Mountain. The running back suffered a serious knee injury against Glenwood Springs Friday night. Hey guys, win one for Libby down in Cortez.

• Ho-hum: Eagle Valley volleyball just went to 6-0 in league play. Big game Tuesday in Gypsum against Palisade to close the first half. See you there.

• Ho-hum, part II: Vail Christian just went 6-0 in league play. Eagle Valley is not surprising. (Nothing personal, ladies. I had you guys contending from the start.) Vail Christian? This is getting fun.

• Congratulations to all for . the Battle Mountain Invitational off as well as possible after bees took over the cross country meet briefly. I would of thought that they’d of kept the course as is and just have everyone run really fast. OK, maybe not.

Sports Editor Chris Freud can be reached at 970-748-2934 or cfreud@vaildaily.com.


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