BOULDER -- With the seconds winding down and a win at Fairview on the line, Broomfield girls soccer's Marin Kotschau lined up for a free kick, just inches outside of the goal box.
Up to that point on Thursday night, the Knights and Eagles had engaged in an even battle -- with neither gaining much of an advantage -- save for the 16 minutes that Fairview led in the first half. Kotschau's kick, while on target, soared just above the crossbar with 15 seconds remaining.
The Eagles instead had to settle for a 1-1 tie, their first of the season. Ten games in, they're enjoying the No. 8 ranking in Class 5A, which is no doubt a testament to their now 7-2-1 record.
They've been leaning on their "altruistic joy," derived from the Sanskrit term that has become their motto this year.
"I think this team is just so tight," junior Kohyn Pottorff said. "I mean, we all are always with each other. We're always connected. We're always playing for one another. I like to say 'mudita' -- it's celebrating other people's wins as if it's your own, and I think our team does a great job doing that. We have each other's backs when it gets hard, and I think that's why the season's been so good recently."
The Knights certainly made things hard for the Eagles early on. Just 12 minutes into the contest, after a whistle in the goal box, Fairview senior forward Charlie Aitken was awarded a penalty kick. Despite a valiant dive from Broomfield keeper Madison Foulke, Aitken was able to sink the shot.
"Oh my goodness, I personally don't love scoring off of PKs -- just because I feel like sometimes it's kind of given -- but I'm really proud of the way that I drew that foul and was able to get that PK," Aitken said. "It's just the nerves going in. They're a lot, but I picked my spot and just drove it to the net."
Leading up to Thursday night's tie, the Knights had suffered a bit more adversity, losing three and tying one, but after they got their feet under them -- and knocked off the rust from the early season -- they've been on a roll.
They fell 2-1 to Boulder on Mar. 27, and have since only dropped one additional game to No. 16 Valor Christian. In that timeframe, they picked up four victories to bring their overall record to 5-3-2.
Fairview was ranked No. 21 prior to the game, further exemplifying just how tough the Granite Peaks League is. Legacy led the representation at No. 2, followed by No. 13 Horizon and No. 14 Erie.
"I think since the Boulder game, we switched our formation to a 4-4-2, and we've been really successful in that," Aitken explained. "I think our forwards -- me, Abbie (Laird), Bianca (Cook) -- we've really been able to find a flow up at the top and that's been really helpful in our defense, midfield. Everyone's been super solid. I think we've been really focused on just working for each other, working as a team and getting closer throughout the season. It's really brought us together and made us a lot better."
Her goal put the pressure on the Eagles, who found relief only 16 minutes later thanks to Pottorff, who now has three goals to her name.
"The last couple minutes of the half we, as a team, calmed it down," Pottorff said. "We were able to move the ball around. We had a great slip ball through the back, and I was lucky enough to be right there and find the back of the net."
Now, the Eagles will prepare to host Horizon on Tuesday, while Fairview will head to Legacy on the same night.