DENVER | Jackson Huguelet scored a goal less than a minute into Tuesday evening’s Class 5A state semifinal against Pine Creek, but it was his second one that counted the most.
The Regis Jesuit junior midfielder’s perfectly placed corner kick found its way into the net in the 67th minute at CIBER Field at the University of Denver and his sixth-seeded Raiders held on for a 3-2 win over the seventh-seeded Eagles to advance to Saturday’s 6 p.m. 5A final at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
Coach Rick Wolf’s Regis Jesuit team nearly was set to face another Aurora area foe in the the championship game, but No. 12 Cherokee Trail could not hold a goal lead with less than two minutes left against No. 1 Ralston Valley, which tied it and prevailed in a shootout in the other semifinal.
Regis Jesuit will be in search of its first state championship in boys soccer since 1996 and fifth all-time.
Huguelet got the scoring going quickly in the opening minute when he dribbled to the top of the goal box into a crush of defenders, with the ball finding its way past Pine Creek keeper Gavin Howell and into the corner of the goal.
The Eagles responded with back-to-back goals seven minutes apart, however, as Calvin Stewart — who scored the winning goal in their overtime upset of No. 2 Cherry Creek in the quarterfinals — scored off a nice cross and Aiden VanManen put back in a rebound off a save by Regis Jesuit junior keeper Marcus Huguelet to give them the lead.
Jackson Huguelet was again involved in the tying score as his corner kick service bounced off a group of players in the air and onto the right foot of senior Jackson Schneller, who chipped it into the open net from point blank range.
Neither team had dangerous chances for the next 20-plus minutes at the end of the first half and beginning of the second before Huguelet’s corner kick eluded the outstretched hand of Howell and ended up in the net.
Marcus Huguelet and the Raiders’ defense stood up to Pine Creek’s desperation efforts to come up with the equalizer, while senior Kam Bachus — who scored go-ahead and insurance goals in a quarterfinal win over Northfield — just missed a chance to expand Regis Jesuit’s lead with few minutes left.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2025 CLASS 5A BOYS SOCCER STATE SEMIFINALS
Nov. 11 at CIBER Field, University of Denver
(6) REGIS JESUIT 3, (7) PINE CREEK 2
Score by halves:
Pine Creek 2 0 — 2
Regis Jesuit 2 1 — 3
SCORING
First half
Regis Jesuit — Jackson Huguelet, 1st minute
Pine Creek — Calvin Stewart (Caleb VanHorn), 6th minute
Pine Creek — Aiden VanManen (Kobe Cid), 14th minute
Regis Jesuit — Jackson Schneller (Huguelet), 21st minute
Second half
Regis Jesuit — Huguelet, 67th minute
Saves: Pine Creek — Gavin Howell (7 shots on goal-4 saves)
