AURORA | In rain, sleet, snow or 80 degrees, a win in the Class 5A boys soccer state playoffs always tastes sweet.
It certainly did to sixth-seeded Regis Jesuit Tuesday night at Lou Kellogg Stadium, where it handled the significant elements (wind and blowing snow) and a feisty Erie team and made it through to the quarterfinals.
Senior Charles Sharp scored two goals (his 17th and 18th of the season), while fellow seniors Rocco Berg and Stefan Zehnacker also tallied as coach Rick Wolf’s Raiders topped the 22nd-seeded Tigers 4-1. Regis Jesuit (14-1-1) advanced to the quarterfinals at Englewood High School, which have been rescheduled to Sunday due to weather.
“This is what you fear most is this type of weather, that’s why we bumped up to try to avoid it and didn’t,” Wolf said. “It was a good win.”
Only half of the eight second round contests were completed, as Aurora’s other first round survivor — No. 24 Grandview — lost to No. 8 Ralston Valley 4-2, while No. 1 Northfield (a 3-2 winner over No. 16 Pine Creek) and No. 4 Cherry Creek (which topped No. 13 Grand Junction 3-0) also moved on.
Games between No. 2 Boulder and No. 18 Horizon, No. 3 Broomfield and No. 19 Valor Christian, No. 5 Denver East and No. 12 Rock Canyon and No. 7 Columbine and No. 23 Fort Collins were suspended by weather and completed later.
The Regis Jesuit-Erie start time moved up two hours due to the forecast, but the a considerably gusty wind arrived before kickoff and the Raiders — who downed No. 27 Denver South 5-0 in the opening round — had the considerably gusty wind in their faces in the opening half.
Swirling snow joined it midway through the first 40 minutes and Erie (a first round upset winner over No. 11 Liberty on penalty kicks) took advantage to put on some initial early pressure.
Regis Jesuit worked the ball on the ground and tried to use the effects of the wind the opposite way as well as possible. Seeking to get into halftime in at worst a scoreless game, the Raiders instead found themselves with a goal advantage after the break.
A corner kick service from Zehnacker went to Everett White, who got a head on it and sent it in front to an open Berg, who volleyed it into the net to get the Raiders on the scoreboard. It was the third goal of the season for Berg and first since Oct. 22.
“With 24 minutes left in the first half, we thought let’s just survive the half, so to go in with a goal was huge,” Wolf said. “That’s a big advantage and then heading into the second half with the wind at your back.”
Added Sharp: “Getting that goal right before half definitely changed the dynamic. I think it allowed us to come out early goal in the second half. I’d say it’s what changed the game for us.”
Indeed Sharp was able to grow the lead with a goal five minutes into the second half on an assist by team senior goal leader Jack De Simone, who had a chance to up the lead further with a shot that pinged off the goal post just five minutes later.
Erie gathered itself, however, and began to press the other way.
Though stymied by senior keeper Thayer White and the Regis Jesuit defense, the Tigers were awarded a penalty kick attempt in the 66th minute on a foul in the box during a corner kick service. The Raiders didn’t agree with the call, but the PK try was taken and converted by junior Lennon Green to cut the lead to 2-1.
Five minutes later, Regis Jesuit got a PK opportunity of its own when Tigers’ sophomore goalkeeper Brendan McNeal was given a yellow card for fouling the Raiders’ sophomore Jackson Huguelet inside the box. With McNeal off due to the card, Sharp slipped his PK try past senior reserve Ben Kemp to restore a two-goal lead.
“I’m pretty confident (taking PKs),” Sharp said. “I always think I can get it, but when you are up there it’s nervewracking.”
Zehnacker provided insurance six minutes later with his sixth goal, while De Simone (who has 24 on the season) appeared to have scored a short time later, though the goal was erased due to an offside call.
Regis Jesuit — which advanced to the quarterfinals for a second straight season — will await the winner of the game between No. 3 Broomfield and No. 19 Valor Christian, which began and was suspended with 6 minutes, 21 seconds, remaining in the first half after Broomfield scored the first goal of the game early.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter/X: @auroarsports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2024 CLASS 5A BOYS SOCCER STATE PLAYOFFS (2ND ROUND)
Nov. 5 at Lou Kellogg Stadium
(6) REGIS JESUIT 4, (22) ERIE 1
Score by halves:
Erie 0 1 — 1
Regis Jesuit 1 3 — 4
SCORING
First half
Regis Jesuit — Rocco Berg (Everett White), 37th minute
Second half
Regis Jesuit — Charles Sharp (Jack De Simone), 42nd minute
Erie — Lennon Green (PK), 66th minute
Regis Jesuit — Sharp (PK) (Jackson Huguelet), 71st minute
Regis Jesuit — Stefan Zehnacker (Colin Manion), 77th minute
