Transformer: Standout lifts team to edge rival
Mandi Torrez
Behind door No. 1 is a shortstop about as effective as a concrete wall.
Door No. 2 conceals a scrappy guard who can hit from long range.
Open a third door and you'll get a soccer player you can stick about anywhere on the field.
Whatever you choose, you'll find Greeley Central's Brittani Knott and win any way.
And she's just a freshman.
But Knott isn't only interchangeable between sports. She's handling duties as a sweeper for the first time and also plays midfield this season for
the Central soccer team (9-4 overall, 6-1 Tri-Valley). She showed her versatility Wednesday against Northridge (6-7 overall, 5-4 Skyline), helping shut down the Grizzlies' leading scorer in the first half and then scoring the winning goal in the second half of Central's 3-2 nonconference win.
Jessica Zimmerman's corner kick was placed perfectly in the sea of players for Knott to head in the winner in the 68th minute, breaking a 2-2 tie that lasted for nearly 40 minutes of physical play between the cross-town rivals.
"It was nice that the people of Greeley came out to support the teams," Northridge coach Laura Hudson said. "And it was nice that we played well and that nobody got seriously hurt. It was better than last year."
While Central didn't share the same sentiments about their own play in the first half, players like Knott still delivered.
While Zimmerman boosted the offense in the first half, Knott was at work on defense going against one of Class 4A's top scorers in Lauren Archibeque.
Though Knott is solid defensively on a softball field and racked up steals on defense in basketball, she's a little green when it comes to playing sweeper.
"I moved back on defense about five or six games ago and was a little worried," said Knott, who has been more of an offensive player since she started playing soccer about 10 years ago. "But now I know what it's like back there."
But knowing her way around more than one sport isn't anything new. Knott is playing soccer at the same time she's playing club softball. There's never a rest, but that's just the way she likes it — because she's good at something else too.
"If I didn't play sports I'd probably be fat because I eat a lot," Knott said. " But I like being competitive and winning games and having something to do. It's just a lot of fun."
: Zimmerman led the Wildcats with two goals. Her first came on a charge down the middle, getting around Northridge goalie Carly Herin to the left for a clear shot. Her second was a show of her skills, using footwork to shake loose a Central defender to get the shot off.
: Northridge freshman Lauren Archibeque was held without a goal for just the third time this season, thanks in part to the defense of Central's Perry Todd. Archibeque had 25 goals going in the match, among the best in Class 4A. But she did pick up her sixth assist, one to sophomore Brecca Gaffney to give Northridge an early 1-0 lead. Gaffney scored both of the Grizzlies goals to bring her total to 14 goals this season.
Central keeper Megan Rouse wishes she could have one back. Gaffney's second goal was a shot right at Rouse, who had the ball slip through her hands and into the net as she reached above her head.
: With Zimmerman threatening in the first half, Grizzlies keeper Herin came out to help defend, and the Wildcats still managed to get a shot off. But Rosie Arellano stepped in at the last minutes to kick the ball back out and make the save to keep Central from going up 2-1.
NHS	2	0	—	2
Scoring: NHS, Brecca Gaffney (Lauren Archibeque), 6:31; GC, Jessica Zimmerman, 9:34; NHS, Gaffney, 21:34; GC, Zimmerman, 29:90; GC, Brittani Knott (Zimmerman corner kick) 68:04.
Shots: GC 15, NHS 16.
Saves: GC 14 (Megan Rouse), NHS 12 (Carly Herin).
Corner kicks: GC 6, NHS 3.
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