In a battle of the Eagles, it was Valor Christian who soared into the quarterfinals. 

No. 4 Pine Creek’s season came to an end after falling 3-2 to No. 13 Valor Christian on Friday in the second round of the 5A girls’ soccer playoffs. After being tied at the half, back-to-back goals from Valor Christian lifted the Highlands Ranch team to the quarterfinals on Pine Creek’s home field. 

Pine Creek (12-1-3) was shorthanded Friday night with two starters, Reece Stoneman and Bella Ramirez, on the bench due to injury. The team felt their absence. 

“It’s been a long season,” senior forward Brenna Hallam said. “We are all just doing what we can to stay on the field and stay as healthy as possible. It’s hard to stay healthy all season, but you have to battle with what you have. In the second half, we were running out of things to have.” 

Hallam scored both goals for the Eagles and just missed the net to tie the game in the final 30 seconds. The forward had the chance to begin training with her future college team, Oklahoma, this semester, but decided to finish out her senior year with Pine Creek. 

The host Eagles started strong with a goal from Hallam off a corner kick in the 4th minute for her team-leading 24th goal of the season. Valor Christian responded in the 22nd minute with a goal from senior Ella Ashouri to tie the game 1-1 at the break. 

After some back-and-forth action, Valor Christian freshman Sophia Luga scored in the 61st minute. Ashouri found the back of the net a minute later to quickly put Valor Christian up 3-1.

Hallam scored in the 68th minute, but it wasn’t enough. Valor Christian (10-6-1) will face No. 5 Rock Canyon in the quarterfinals. 

“This hurts more than the 26 playoff losses we’ve had in the 28 years I’ve been here,” Pine Creek head coach John Frederick said. “This group has worked extremely hard together. The seniors have been such wonderful leaders. The sadness is not about who we lost to or how we lost, it’s the fact we are ending such a special group. You can’t repeat this.”

The Eagles’ motto this season was “all in, all together,” and put that into effect with extra practices and even a sleepover on the soccer field — a first — to become closer than ever. As players consoled each other after the game, Frederick reminded the team that the loss doesn’t define the season or who they are. 

“It’s more about who they became as women and players,” Frederick said. “That means so much more. Success is measured in so many different ways, and this has been one of the most successful teams we’ve had. 

This is a very special group; I’ll never forget this group. They deserve the world.”