L-P falls in final seconds/ Lewis-Palmer's season ends with the hands

MONUMENT - With seconds left on the clock Saturday, Lewis-Palmer pounded shot after shot at Legacy goalie Christina Smith in a last attempt to extend its season.

A loss in the first-round Class4A state girls soccer playoff game would finish things for the Rangers.

Legacy (12-2) led 1-0 at Breese Stadium, and the score reflected the defensive battle that occupied the first 77 minutes. But as the Rangers (11-5-1) realized the immediacy of the situation, they made a final charge down the field.

With play forced into the Lightning zone, Lindsey Laband inbounded a ball that found its way to the front of the goal box. Erin Watt put a strong foot on it but Smith made a diving save.

Moments later, Lewis-Palmer came back with another strong scoring chance, but Smith made another great save, leaping up and bumping the ball over the top of the net to preserve the 1-0 victory.

"Christy Smith saved the game," Legacy coach Jeff Good said. "She did a great job."

Legacy's goal came at the 5-minute mark of the first half. A loose ball went to Robin Alexander in the middle where she directed it to the high-right corner of the net past the outstretched hands of goalie Misha Temple.

It was "opportunistic scoring," Good said.

Legacy continued its defensive domination with its eighth shutout in 13 games. It has only allowed seven goals all season, three of them in one game against Broomfield.

The Rangers also put on a good defensive showing. With most of the play taking place at midfield, the teams covered each other effectively so as to not allow any quick, long drives. Legacy had no shots the entire second half and was held to six shots in the game.

"Our defense shut down their offense except for that one shot," coach Reid Wiecks said.

Tears heralded the end of the season for a bruised and battered Lewis-Palmer team. Laband, who recently suffered a concussion and played with instructions from her coach "not to head the ball," thought her team would pull it out in the end.

"I never lost faith that we could do it," she said. "Even in the last 3 seconds."

Injuries have plagued the Rangers this season. Co-captain Stephanie Clark was unable to play due to ankle problems, and Rachel Lyons played while "running in pain," according to Wiecks.

Both Kathryn Saunders and Carissa Sanchez had to leave the game because of injuries.

"It's been that kind of season," Wiecks said.

Legacy's next game is against Broomfield in the quarterfinals. The Eagles are the only team to beat them this year.

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