AURORA | In its first season as a varsity program, the Vanguard Classical East boys soccer team is one of the eight teams left in the Class 2A state playoffs.
The Hawks got an opening round bye as the No. 8 seed and then downed No. 9 Loveland Classical Academy 3-2 Wednesday afternoon on their home pitch to move on to Saturday’s quarterfinals.
Sophomore Adrian Gonzalez scored twice and junior Sebastian Rodriguez had the other goal for coach Irvin Borjas Ruiz’s Vanguard Classical East team, which improved to 12-3-1 season and is headed into a matchup with top-seeded Telluride.
The Hawks visit the Miners — who downed No. 16 Campion Academy 6-1 in the second round — at 11 a.m. Saturday in a contest that will decide which moves into the Nov. 11 semifinals at the North Stadium in Westminster.
In its first postseason contest, the Hawks tallied the only goal of the first half, but found themselves in a tie game early in the 2nd half as Loveland Classical Academy — a 2-0 winner over No. 24 Grand Valley in the first round — got the equalizer.
Vanguard Classical East got the next two goals, however, and held off the Lions at the end.
Sophomore goalkeeper Andin Toverlani tallied 10 saves in the net for the Hawks.
Aurora area qualifiers for the 2A state playoffs both won in the second round, as seventh-seeded Lotus School For Excellence prevailed over No. 10 The Vanguard School 2-0.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2026 CLASS 2A BOYS SOCCER STATE PLAYOFFS
Second round, Nov. 4 at Vanguard Classical East
(8) Vanguard Classical East 3, (9) Loveland Classical 2
Score by halves:
Loveland Classical 0 2 — 2
Vanguard Classical East 1 2 — 3
