FORT LUPTON — Frederick shut out Fort Lupton 4-0 Saturday morning in non-conference girls soccer action on the Bluedevils’ field.

    The Warriors split their goals between the two halves. Nicole Mullarkey scored in the first four minutes of the game, and Shanelle Cox scored in the last half-minute of the first half. Melanie Lathrop and Katelynn Campbell scored in the second half. Goalkeeper Alex Godinez recorded the shutout, her ninth of the season.
    Fort Lupton’s best chance for a goal came midway through the first half. But Cristal Monge’s shot went wide and into the side of the net.
    The Warriors were coming off what they felt was a tough week. They tied Northridge and lost 2-0 to Roosevelt.
    “We came out with a win, and that was good,” Cox said. “We came together. We shook off the week. We came out today and had fun.”
    “It seems like the last three games, the girls have stepped up their play,” Fort Lupton coach Mike Pineda said. “Against Skyview, I think they (Skyview) expected to walk over us. We played strong and lost by two, so it was a good showing for us. The girls are having fun and playing aggressive soccer.”
    Frederick coach Chad Eisentrager said his team did a lot of good things against the Bluedevils, especially in the first two-thirds of the field.
    “Once we got to the final third, we struggle,” he said. “We relied on Jacqueline (Jacqueline Rigali, out for the season with an ACL injury) the past three years. That’s our biggest problem. Now, we’re forced to find some answers.”
    Cox and Campbell are defenders. Sam Teller is a forward/midfielder, yet they are providing some short-term answers to the Warriors’ lack of finishing.
    “It’s better to have a lot of solutions than one,” Eisentrager said. “It makes us a better team. But those players are playing out of position, too.”
    The Warriors are 8-3-2. Cox wasn’t surprised at how well the team is doing.
    “Not really,” she said. “We knew we had the skill. We just had to come together. So far, it’s been pretty good. It’s taken a lot of dedication, help from my teammates and from the coaches. Hopefully, we can go far in the playoffs.”
    “I expected better,” Eisentrager said. “I’m happy but not as much as I should be. We just have to pay attention to some details. If we do that, we’re a good team. If we don’t, then we make mistakes that allow teams to hang around.”
    “We’re not getting blown out,” Pineda said. “And the girls can feel the swing. It’s a big help when we keep it close. Our practices are intense. We focus hard. But there’s not a lot of time to rest. We did a lot of things well today. We made our passes. We stayed aggressive. Their goalie (Godinez) was tremendous. She’s phenomenal.”
    Fort Lupton freshman goalie Kyla Boyd had another strong game as well. She was coming off a 30-plus save effort against Skyview.
    “Their goalie played a great game,” Eisentrager said. “She was all over the net.”
    “She’s grown a lot,” Pineda said. “She’s young and has a lot to learn. You saw goalies at both ends of the spectrum. One (Godinez) signed a letter to go to an NCAA Division I school and one who’s an incoming freshman. A lot develops in young ladies between the time they are 14 and the time they are 18.”