ERIE — As the snow dumped on the pitch at Erie High School with decreasing visibility on Tuesday, Elodie Kirchoffner was laser-focused on one priority — ensuring the Tigers would make it out of the first round of the Class 5A state soccer playoffs.
Three minutes into play, the junior midfielder took it to the bank — the snow bank — with her 12th goal of the season to give the No. 14 Tigers the early edge. They eventually defeated No. 19 Arapahoe 2-0.
“It’s very cold but it’s fun. Honestly, I’m just trying to keep a smile on my face and work through it with my team,” Kirchoffner said. “It was good to get a goal early and set the level high.”
This Tiger team, she added, has been playing a tier up this season, and credits the jump to an 11-4-1 record to the camaraderie she and her teammates enjoy on and off the pitch. Their effort on Tuesday hardly allowed the Warriors to get off a good shot on goal.
“We have team dinners every week, so that helps a lot in practices. We had classes together. We do a lot together. We’re all like best friends,” she added. “Our team chemistry has been so good this season. Everything just clicks so well, especially in this weather right now. It’s really hard, but we’ve done a really good job at staying together and working together and wanting to go far in the playoffs.”
Her personal goal, she said, was to score in every game that came to pass, and while she wasn’t able to achieve that, she’s still been the beating heart of the Erie offense. On two separate occasions, at the end of March against Brighton and in mid-April against Lewis-Palmer, she scored hat tricks.
Erie’s Tayllin Maynes fights for ball control with Arapahoe’s Paige Bradley during the Tigers’ Class 5A first-round playoff game against Arapahoe on May 5, 2026. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Erie girls soccer celebrates Elodie Kirchoffner’s goal during the Tigers’ Class 5A first-round playoff game against Arapahoe on May 5, 2026. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Erie’s Kate Zogorski takes the ball down a snowy field during the Tigers’ Class 5A first-round playoff game against Arapahoe on May 5, 2026. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Erie’s Kate Zogorski weaves the ball around Arapahoe’s Ruby Plumb during the Tigers’ Class 5A first-round playoff game against Arapahoe on May 5, 2026. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Erie’s Brooke Wenino zeroes in on a ball during the Tigers’ Class 5A first-round playoff game against Arapahoe on May 5, 2026. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
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Erie’s Tayllin Maynes fights for ball control with Arapahoe’s Paige Bradley during the Tigers’ Class 5A first-round playoff game against Arapahoe on May 5, 2026. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Second-year head coach Laura Munnelly knew that if they could net a goal early into the game, while the snow was blowing toward them, and keep the Warriors at bay, they had an excellent shot to pull off the win.
Freshman midfielder Brooke Wenino sunk her own score in the 53rd minute for good measure from about 15 yards out.
“I preach a very possession style of soccer,” Munnelly said. “I think this year, we’ve seen successes when we’ve played that way. They’ve just continued to understand that that’s how we win games. We’ve got a lot of talent, a lot of heart. We’ve come together, I think, especially in the latter half of the season, just culturally as a team.”
Up until Tuesday night, the Tigers had never won a 5A playoff game — having only jumped into the largest classification in the last few years — and last made it out of the 4A first round against Denver North in 2023.
Now, they’ll face off with either No. 3 Castle View or No. 30 Liberty for the quarterfinals on Friday.
“It feels good and to do it at home, I think, feels a little bit extra special,” Munnelly said. “We didn’t win our senior night game (2-0 against Horizon), so this was a chance to make good on that for our seniors. We just get to keep playing.”