Central’s River Westcott sticks out her tongue while defending in goal during the Warriors’ 10-0 loss to Grand Junction at Community Hospital Unity Field on April 1, 2025.
The Grand Junction High School girls soccer team turned in another dominant performance against Central on Thursday at Community Hospital Unity Field, defeating their crosstown rivals 7-0 to get back in the win column.
A third straight slow first half hampered the Tigers, who only managed to score twice in the opening 40 minutes. But halftime adjustments made all the difference for Grand Junction, which scored only 23 seconds into the second half and tacked on four more second-half goals. The Tigers had been held scoreless in back-to-back contests since defeating Central 10-0 on April 1.
The highlight of the game came late, when an injury forced starting Central goalkeeper River Westcott off the field for several minutes. The Warriors were already without their backup goalkeeper, who was previously injured, and the situation necessitated a field player to suit up in net.
Sophomore forward Sonya Johnson drew the short stick, but made the most of the situation.
“I’ve never played (goalkeeper). I’ve never practiced,” Johnson said. “I played basketball, that’s the closest I’ve gotten to touching the ball.”
In spite of her lack of experience, Johnson made several saves and did not allow a goal in more than six minutes in net. Johnson received a standing ovation from fans of both teams when she was subbed out after Westcott’s eventual return.
“We said at practice, ‘who’s going to be back up goalie if River gets injured?’ I said ‘Oh, yeah, I’ll do it, of course!’ I was like ‘I’m never going to go in, I’m never gonna be goalie,’” Johnson said. “And then when coach was like ‘Sonya, you’re up,’ I was like ‘wait, no, no!’”
“I couldn’t be more proud of those girls tonight,” Central head coach Conor Beach said. “The way they just step up to any situation, it’s amazing... My thought process was, ‘Who’s athletic, who’s not afraid of the ball, who’s going to step up?’ I knew Sonya would rise to that challenge, for sure. She’s amazing, I love her so much.”
Palisade tied 0-0 with Montrose. The match was Palisade’s first tie of the season. They move to 2-1-1 in Southwestern League play.
LACROSSE
The Fruita Monument boys defeated Battle Mountain 7-5 on the road Thursday.
The Grand Junction girls lost to Aspen 16-9 at Canyon View. Only two Tigers scored in Thursday’s contest; sophomore Alexis Campbell had five goals, and senior Emma Diaz added four.
TRACK AND FIELD
De Beque alum Scottie Vines was selected the 2025 Male High School Athlete of the Year by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday night. Vines, now a freshman at Arkansas, was honored after breaking the state high jump record in the spring.
The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame also inducted six new members at Wednesday’s event: Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin, former Broncos linebacker Simon Fletcher, former Nuggets coach Larry Brown, former Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, legendary University of Colorado women’s basketball player Lisa Von Goor and Denver-born Negro League baseball player Bubbles Anderson.
