Prep notebook: Gore Rangers, Devils and Saints girls soccer close out regular season with wins
VMS and Eagle Valley lacrosse also pick up wins with playoff fields announced next week
Rex Keep/Courtesy photo
The Vail Mountain School, Eagle Valley and Vail Christian girls soccer teams finished out the league regular season league calendar with wins late this week. The No. 3 Gore Rangers held off No. 8 Delta 2-1 in Vail on Thursday to remain undefeated (11-0) and secure the 3A Western Slope title for the third-straight season. The Gore Rangers, who will travel to Denver Christian for a non-league matchup on Saturday, finished 7-0 in league play in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Also on Thursday, the Devils defeated Summit 3-0 on the road, finishing the season fourth in the league with a 5-8-2 overall record. Vail Christian traveled to Nederland and took down the Panthers 2-1 on Wednesday.
“It was a great way to end our season,” stated head coach Andrea Juskaitis. The Saints 2023 campaign concluded with a two-game win streak and a 4-7 overall mark.
Rebecca Florez scored both goals with assists from Lindsey Whitton and Lia Nowicki.
“We have come a long way since February 27. I am so proud of how these girls evolved into becoming a solid team,” Justkaitis said.
Support Local Journalism
“We will definitely miss our seniors, but we have a young team emerging for next season and four rising seniors who will be great leaders on the field.”
Steamboat Springs needed double-overtime to take down Battle Mountain 2-1 in Edwards as both teams wrapped up league play as well. The loss didn’t shift the final standings, as the Sailors (6-4) ended the year in third, the Huskies (6-2-2) second and Palisade (7-1-1) first.
Rex Keep/Courtesy photo
Battle Mountain will look to regain momentum in its final regular season game against The Classical Academy in Colorado Springs on Saturday.
Rex Keep/Courtesy photo
The 32-team 4A state tournament bracket will be released May 7, with first round games beginning May 10. Currently, Battle Mountain sits at No. 14 in the CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index and Eagle Valley is ranked 45th. Vail Mountain School sits at No. 3 in 3A, which starts on May 11, and Vail Christian is No. 31 in the 2A where the top 16 teams will kick off playoff action on May 12.
Lacrosse notes: Vail Mountain School holds off Glenwood Springs
Ryan Sederquist/Vail Daily
The Vail Mountain School boys lacrosse team held off Glenwood Springs after the Demons made a third-quarter rally, holding on for the 12-11 road win on Thursday.
Charlie and Max Vidal and Mason Geller each scored three goals, and Geller added six assists. Colby Saunders also scored twice, and Erik Jaerbyn added a goal and two assists as the Gore Rangers won their third straight game.
Though Vail Mountain School will wrap up the regular season at Evergreen on Saturday, the No. 9-ranked Gore Rangers (10-3 overall record) finished the league calendar Thursday with a 9-3 record, good for second in the 4A Western Slope. As of Friday, the Gore Rangers are eighth in 4A in the CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index, which will be used to fill the 24-team state tournament released on May 7. The top eight seeds will receive a first-round bye.
The Eagle Valley girls lacrosse team outscored Telluride 7-2 in the second half en route to a 15-7 win. The Devils finished their regular season with a 6-9 record and currently sit at No. 20 in the CHSAANow.com Selection & Seeding Index. The 24-team 4A girls lacrosse tournament will also be released May 7.
