As the 4A championship got started, excitement filled the stadium at Dicks Sporting Goods Park. Coach Ashleigh Fitterer (2011 GA and 2011 DPL), with Lutheran High School, was sitting at 18-1 on the year and ready to play against Dakota Ridge who was 17-1 on the year. What a great matchup between the #1 and the #2 ranked teams in 4A. With several starters on the field from Colorado Rush representing both teams, there was for sure going to be some excitement. An early goal put Lutheran behind, but they continued to play hard and put on some quality combinations from the back to the front with Addie Johnson (05 GA) and Reese Majkowski (04 Nero) playing important parts in the team's control. Unfortunately for Lutheran, some rock solid Dakota Ridge defending from Jordan Whiteaker (06 GA), Madelyn Culp (07 DPL), and Payton Tanner (06 DPL), Lutheran just could not create the breakthrough. The Dakota Ridge attack was led by Hannah Arnold (05 GA), Bailey Pignatore (05 DPL), Kaylie Sheehan (08 DPL), and Ava Arnold (06 GA). Bailey Pignatore scored her 18th goal of the year to seal the game for Dakota Ridge. One of the sacrificial stories of the game is Kassidy Spencer (04 Nero) who plays as a striker for her club team, stepping in to play as a goalkeeper and keeping a clean sheet in the championship game. With so many other players from Colorado Rush helping Dakota Ridge throughout the year, we want to congratulate all 12 players from Dakota on their State Championship. 

Thursday was another beautiful night to play soccer and the game matchup between Rock Canyon and Thunder Ridge did not disappoint. With back and forth action, both teams created some chances while shaking off the nerves. Reese Clem (06 GA) took a chance in a 1v1 situation, drove across the top of the box and struck a left footed screamer into the upper part of the net, beyond the reach of Rock Canyon's goalkeeper. The rest of the story comes from the opposite goal where Becca Winton (05 GA) made several key saves during the second half and found a way to keep the clean sheet in an onslaught of attacking threat from Rock Canyon. "She's super-human, I don't get it. She's insane," Clem said of her teammate Winton in the goal. Congrats to the Grizzlies on their state Championship win. 

With so many players playing in the state finals, we want to congratulate all of our Rush families involved. We enjoyed watching you in a different and challenging environment, and we are proud of you ALL. Now it's time to get back to work under the Rush R.