COMMERCE CITY – As planned, Fort Collins wasted little time establishing itself in the Class 5A boys soccer state championship Wednesday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
And by the time it was over the second-seeded Lambkins walked off the pitch with their second title in five years, and third overall, as they coasted to a 3-0 win against No. 4 Lincoln to close the boys soccer season.
Sam Dietz tallied for the Lambkins in the second minute on a push that looked harmless at the outset. A free kick was sent in by Will Gustafson, but no Lincoln defender moved over to mark Dietz before he jumped up and tallied on a header.
The offensive output was a sign of things to come, as Fort Collins consistently pressured the Lancers and capitalized on its opportunities. The Lambkins also won titles in 2005 and 1990.
“We thought we could push them out of their game if we could get out of the gates quicker than they did, and that’s exactly what happened,” Fort Collins coach Justin Stephens said.
Fort Collins (17-2-1) scored again in the 20th minute on one of the easiest goals Gary Seville probably has ever converted. Sophomore Ben Walker fired the first effort at Lincoln goalkeeper Gerardo Ramirez, who made a diving stop at the front of the goalie box. The ball got away from him and Seville was there to pick up the rebound, kicking it uncontested into the net for the two-goal lead.
In the 61st minute, Seville struck again. He controlled an errant shot by Peter Boxley that sailed through the goalie box. Just to the left of the net at the endline, Seville stopped the ball with his right foot and looked ready to pass. Instead, he shuffled left and drilled a shot with his left foot over the top of Ramirez, who had no chance to stop it from such close range.
“That first goal, I was just standing there. I just get the rebounds and put them in,” said Seville, a former goalie. “(On the second goal), I actually tried clearing it, but it just came off the side of my foot. I saw I had an open shot, so I took it and it went in for me. It was a good night for me.”
Added Stephens: “Gary has impressed me so much. Last year for us he made the switch from keeper to striker. It was a lot of work, a lot of time to make that happen, and tonight was his night.”
Meanwhile, a prolific Lincoln (18-1-1) offense was limited to only one decent scoring chance against a Lambkins defense that gave up only 16 goals this season and only three in the playoffs. Lincoln’s Makir Oropeza, who entered with 24 goals, and Oscar Montoya (18 goals) were held without a shot on goal.
Senior defenders Dalton Noren, Scott Ulrich and Gustafson did an excellent job controlling the middle against the Lancers’ high scorers in front of Chris Couperus. Couperus had to make only that one tough save on a shot by Omar Valverde in the 47th minute. It was the only shutout of the season for the Lancers, who were making their first appearance in the title game.
Click here for the boxscore.
Velez delivers Niwot 4A title in overtime
COMMERCE CITY - Before Niwot coach Steve Lepper sent his players out for overtime against Rock Canyon in the Class 4A boys soccer state championship game, he made one simple request of his standout Santiago Velez.
“When you score the goal,” he said he told Velez, “I want the first hug.”
The junior midfielder Velez didn’t forget, as he jumped into Lepper’s arms moments after finding the back of the net in the 89th minute to give Niwot the 1-0 victory, avenging a loss to Rock Canyon in last season’s championship game.
Velez took a pass from senior Curtis Stecyk and burst down the middle of the field between Jaguars defenders. Rock Canyon goalie Jacob Lissek, who kept his team in the game with several key saves in the second half, awaited the shot. From about 15 yards, Velez fired to his right, and an outstretched Lissek made a diving attempt, but he couldn’t get there in time.
“Me and Curtis did what we’ve been doing all year,” said Velez, who also scored the winner in a 1-0 semifinals win against top-seeded Broomfield and finished as the Cougars leading scorer with 16 goals. “I saw (Lissek) was a little bit to the left side in goal, so I went right and I was able to put it in.”
Each team missed prime scoring opportunities early in the second half, particularly Niwot (18-2-0). A Rock Canyon (12-6-2) rush came up the left side of the field, with Tyler Strampel pushing a pass to Gustavo Hidalgo, who cleared his defender by a step. Niwot goalie Connor Wood slid out to challenge the shot, but Hidalgo pushed it left, missing a near-open goal. Hidalgo grabbed his head after what essentially was Rock Canyon’s best scoring chance all game.
Minutes later Niwot provided good pressure with consecutive corner kicks, and then nearly cashed in on a free kick from about 30 yards, directly in front of the goal, by Stecyk. His line drive hit the right post and bounced out wide. Another corner kick rally by the Cougars with a little more than 20 minutes remaining in the second half also went just high of the goal.
Niwot missed its best opportunity in regulation at the 63-minute mark when the ball found the right foot of Tommy Xiong after bouncing around off players from both teams, just outside the goalie box. Xiong wheeled and fired a shot, and Lissek knocked it down with one hand as he was diving fully outstretched to his left. Lissek controlled it enough to keep it within reach of his other hand, and he pulled the ball to his body to end the threat.
Lissek came up with another huge save, this one with a little more than 7 minutes remaining and this time with his legs as he slid to stop a shot by Stecyk, who had broken between two defenders about 15 yards out.
“I kind of saw midfielder slide over and I saw the play developing,” Lissek said of the winning goal. “As soon as he hit it I knew it was there, unfortunately. I tried to do what I could. My team played their heart out, but it just wasn’t meant to be.”
In the scoreless first half, Niwot pressed the action more in the initial part of the period, before Rock Canyon had the better opportunities in the final 20-plus minutes.
With a little more than 21 minutes left, Rock Canyon’s Alexander Davis had a free kick just outside the penalty box, directly in front of the goal. His laser kicked off the foot of a Niwot defender in front of the goalie box and out of trouble.
Four minutes later, Tyler Strampel sent a free kick from the far left side of the field from about 35 yards, diagonally to the right side of the net. The pass found Jaguars senior Sean Typher alone just outside the goalie box, and Niwot goalie Connor Wood moved quickly to the post to cut off the angle. Typher was called offsides as his shot hit off Wood’s chest.
Velez registered the only shot on goal in the first 40 minutes, a two-hopper from about 40 yards that Lissek easily scooped.
“We talked all season about how we get stronger as the game goes on,” Lepper said. “Our last three games have been 0-0 at halftime and we’ve come back to win in the second half or now overtime. We have a belief that the goal is going to come.
“This feels so much better winning than it does losing."
Click here for the boxscore.
