ENGLEWOOD • What could have been might be the best way to sum up Saturday’s 4A girls state soccer playoff semifinal between No. 4 seed Cheyenne Mountain and Wheat Ridge. The Indians appeared more aggressive and dictated play, but fell 2-0 to the No. 1-seeded Farmers, who dropped down from 5A last fall.Cheyenne Mountain came up short on several first-half opportunities, unable to connect on corner kicks and fell behind 1-0 at halftime.“We got the plays we wanted. Our corner kicks have been our strength,” Indians coach Scott Johnson said. “We just couldn’t tap it in today.”The Farmers (18-0) tallied at 35:12 when sophomore Bella Hartley, under heavy pressure, used her leg to knock down sophomore Annie Kunz’s throw-in, sending the ball into the net.“Tessa Lee was on her, she was touching her,” said Johnson. “She hit a great shot from the near post to the far side.”With just over 14 minutes to play in the game the Indians’ attempt to tie it up failed when sophomore Darcy Jerman’s free kick sailed high.Hartley sealed the win with a 27-yard kick over leaping Indians freshman goalie Sarah Schneider with 6:59 left.“It’s incredible to even get to this position again,” said senior Elise Kensinger, who was on Cheyenne Mountain’s 2007 state championship team. “It didn’t go our way today.”Throughout the contest, Cheyenne Mountain applied solid defensive pressure, ending a 17-game goal-scoring streak for Kunz.“We knew she was the one they looked to,” Johnson said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the play of Lauren Patterson and Elise Kensinger in the back.“We’re used to shutting people down, but also getting a goal here and there,” said Johnson.The Indians finish the season 16-2-1, but 2010 looks promising.“The freshmen and sophomores gained great game experience,” said Johnson. “The bar has been raised. Expectations are high.”“I’m just real excited,” said junior Julianne Marshall. “I’m going to try to step up my game and be an example for the younger girls.”

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