Fossil Ridge soccer is back-to-back champ after winning OT thriller
Reese Morgan does it again as the Fossil Ridge captain scores an OT winner for the second game in a row to secure the state title for the SaberCats.
COLORADO SPRINGS — These SaberCats are special. Reese Morgan is a special player. The Fossil Ridge girls soccer captain scored an overtime winner for the second game in a row and this one gave the SaberCats a second state title in a row.
Morgan scored with six seconds left in the first overtime May 20 to give Fossil Ridge a 2-1 win over Mountain Vista in the Class 5A title game. She also scored a first-overtime winner last week to beat Castle View in the semis. And it makes Fossil back-to-back champs.
True to form for Fossil's back-to-back run, this was a defensive slugfest. Neither team found steady offensive footing in a low-scoring battle accentuated by cool, rainy conditions. As the SaberCats have shown in a remarkable 10-0 run through the last two playoffs, they always find a goal when it's needed most.
Fossil Ridge took a lead less than 2 minutes into the game. Lily Wale saved a through ball that looked destined for a goal kick, crossed it perfectly into the box and Becca Burke hit a sliding left-footer with authority for an immediate 1-0 edge. It was the seventh goal this season for the freshman forward, but the first in her playoff career.