Eagle Valley girls soccer team makes history with rivalry rematch win over Battle Mountain

Addison Mandeville, Chloe Greener and Alondra Ruiz weren’t quite ready for their prep careers to be over.

A year after leading Eagle Valley to its first play-off berth since 2017, the captains made more history on Saturday, helping the Devils clinch the program’s first girls soccer league title — and punching another postseason ticket in the process.

“We knew what was on the line and we knew this could be our last game,” said Greener, whose second-half corner kick header gave the Devils a 1-0 win over Battle Mountain. “I think we went in with that mentality of ‘this could be it. Let’s not end now.'”

The Devils came into the contest ranked 34th in the CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index, with the top-32 earning a spot in the 4A state bracket. A tie or loss would cede the Western Slope title — and automatic playoff berth — to Battle Mountain. Eagle Valley head coach Jess Platt said such win-or-go-home games “come down to intangibles.”  

“It’s not about the science, it’s more about the momentum and the mentality you come in with,” she said. “We had a lot on the line for this game with winning the league, making the tournament — these girls handled it super well.”

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The back-and-forth first half saw both teams create opportunities. In the 16th minute, Mandeville got to the edge of the 18, but Battle Mountain goalie Elle Glendining closed off the angle, forcing the left-footed shot into the outside netting. Eight minutes later, a Husky through ball just slipped past Evelyn Steinberg before the end line. Jordan Asbury fired one at the Eagle Valley net on the next trip down, but Sienna Marana was there for the stop. At the half, it seemed the squads — which played to a 2-2 tie in their first meeting in March — were headed for another stalemate.

“I think the first game, the intensity was way high and same with this game,” Mandeville said.

“We’ve always been pretty evenly matched,” added Greener.

After Thea Armistead’s free kick from 30 yards out sailed just over the center crossbar 10 minutes into the second half, Eagle Valley’s Izzy Hiatt received a beautiful through ball. The senior’s shot on goal with 28:03 left looked good, but Glendining stretched her leg out for an impressive save. That sent Hiatt to the corner, where she rocketed a pass to Greener in front of the net.

“It was like a magnet. Such a perfect ball from Izzy,” Greener said. “I did a little chicken move and aimed it to the left and it went in.”

While Battle Mountain bottled up Mandeville, who came into the game having scored six goals in the last five contests, Eagle Valley’s defense tightened the screws to secure the victory. On a morning when urgency was paramount, the Devils won most of the 50-50 balls.

“If you’re in control of that, you control the game,” said Ruiz, who credited Riley Weatherred for setting the tone in that department.

“She was a big help, especially at the end there,” Ruiz continued. “There were a bunch of punts from Elle (Glendining) and Riley was there the whole time.”

“When a team is winning balls out of the air like that, it just helps build momentum and gives you the confidence,” Platt added. “You get the first touch, the second touch and you’re going.”

The Huskies finished the regular season with a 7-5-3 overall mark and 4-1-1 league record. Official brackets won’t be released until Sunday, but Battle Mountain is currently in the 27th spot in the RPI. Meanwhile, Eagle Valley enters postseason play having gone 5-0-1 in its last six contests. Saturday’s game was the first time the Devils played for a league crown since 2003, when they lost to Basalt in the regular-season finale. Platt said she doubts her captains — all four-year varsity players — thought about the league title when they were freshman.

“They’ve been working towards that their whole high school career,” she stated. “Every year it got a little closer.”

“I’m kind of at a loss for words,” Mandeville said. “Every year we’ve gone through league games and it’s never come to this point, so it’s really special.”

Mandeville, Greener and Ruiz also guided the Devils to their first league title on the hardwood this winter.

“We’ve all been together between basketball and soccer for the last four years, playing club together since we were 9 — I have goosebumps,” Greener said.

“It’s a perfect ending, the way we left our legacy,” Ruiz stated. “I wouldn’t want it with any other group of girls.”