Rush to judgment in Pikes Peak soccer tourney
When the referee blew the final whistle, players on the Colorado Rush Pikes Peak Nike 15-and-under club girls’ team let out a joyous yelp and hugged the closest teammate each could find.
After what they went through this weekend, a celebration was welcomed.
Rush held off Prodigy Extreme (Kan.) 2-1 Sunday to win its age group in the Pikes Peak International soccer tournament at the Air Force Academy despite entering the day 1-2 and playing most of the championship game with a gimpy defender and a goalie with gauze up her right nostril.
“Coming into today, I wasn’t sure we deserved to be here,” coach Mike Archuleta said. “After today, I’m convinced we were the best team in the tournament.”
Rush scored two early goals and used its defense to hold on, allowing only an early second-half goal.
“We kind of slowed down a bit after the first 10 minutes and we let the quick goals get to our heads a bit,” said Holly Weyand of Palmer Ridge High School. “But we stuck it out and played together as a team.”
It also helps to have Archuleta roaming the sideline.
As Prodigy made last-gasp efforts to send the game into overtime, Archuleta was as fiery as the heat, yelling to players to get in defensive “shape.”
“His intensity helps us stay focused but he’s definitely very lovable and fun outside of soccer,” Weyand said. “I compare him to a military drill sergeant if you’re not doing your job.”
Rush advanced to the finals and avenged a loss in the preliminary round by shutting out Westminster Samba 4-0 Sunday morning.
Three local teams won championships as well.
Pride Copa blanked Phoenix Freedom 3-0 to win the girls under-14 group. Meanwhile, coach Nik Penn guided Rush’s under-12 and under-13 boys team to a pair of titles, winning 2-0 over La Roca (Utah) and 1-0 over Texas Fire (Texas).
“In the (Colorado Spring) State Cup finals, we lost two finals and our men’s team lost a final,” Penn said. “So to get two wins is better than the day we got three losses.”
