Pine Creek observed all season as teams attempted to crack Rampart’s Rubik’s Cube of a defense.

The Eagles handed the metaphorical cube to Brenna Hallam and watched the senior solve the puzzle in seven minutes.

Hallam scored seven minutes into Thursday’s match in the Eagles’ 1-0 victory against the Rams at District 20 Stadium and Pine Creek collected its third consecutive Colorado Springs Metro League crown.

“I was hanging on the blind side of their last defender,” Hallam said. “Reece (Stoneman) did a great job stepping at the right time and she played a great ball. I just snuck behind the defender’s blind side, got a touch on it and was able to finish it.”

Pine Creek (11-1-2) finished 6-0 in CSML action and required a masterful performance against Rampart (12-1, 5-1 CSML), which entered the contest on an 11-match win streak.

The Rams, No. 1 in 4A, conceded just four goals all season and only one team – Palmer Ridge in a 2-1 loss on March 12 – scored multiple times in the same match. Since then, the Rams shut out nine opponents and 10 overall.

Hallam said the Eagles, ranked No. 7 in 5A, prepped for the Rams’ staunch defense throughout the week and recognized goals and shot opportunities would be at a premium.

“We talked about stepping at the right time and taking control,” Hallam said. “Whenever it came, we knew we’d have to capitalize on that opportunity.”

As the Eagles entered the break with their one-goal advantage, the Rams’ intensity increased. The Eagles controlled the ball much of the first half and kept the Rams away from their keeper in the opening 40 minutes.

The Rams pieced together a second-half attack that put several shots on goal and threatened to score on multiple occasions. Though Rampart owns a fierce defense, the Eagles’ back line doesn’t slouch, either.

Through 14 matches, the Eagles have allowed just nine goals and just one – which came April 23 in a 2-1 win against Liberty – during their seven-match winning streak.

Goalkeeper Autumn Montoya made multiple incredible plays to save the shutout for the Eagles, including one late in the first half.

In the 35^th minute, Rampart’s Brooklynn Pollmiller rifled a shot toward Montoya from 40 yards out. As the ball began to descend, it nearly cleared the junior goalie’s gloves. But Montoya got enough elevation to punch the shot out of play.

“That comes from a lot of training and years in the gym,” Montoya said. “I saw her turn and take her touch and saw her head go down, so I had to be prepared because (the ball) came in fast.”

In the 37^th minute, Rampart’s Emma Naftanel had a chance to earn an assist as she beat an Eagles defender and dribbled down the touchline. Naftanel attempted to find a teammate on a cross, but Grace Garza snuffed out the attempt and cleared the ball before the Rams could shoot.

“I trust my backline,” Montoya said. “I knew coming into this game we would have to work for this win and especially a shutout. We knew Rampart was scoring a lot of goals. We worked on defense a lot at practice and that really helped.”

The Colorado High School Activities Association will seed playoff brackets this weekend with postseason games starting next week. After Thursday’s match, Eagles coaches reminded Pine Creek players “the real work begins now,” referring to a potential championship run.

Eagle athletes know five victories will secure the school’s first girls’ soccer championship. But the lengthy journey begins with …

“One game at a time,” Hallam said. “We have to focus on who we have next and put all of (our) energy out there and play for each other and keep going for as long as we can so we can continue to play as long as we can.”