AURORA | Jeff Gillis had never been to the Class 5A boys state soccer playoffs, but he quickly took advantage of his first opportunity.
The Smoky Hill senior striker scored in the second minute of the game and added a second goal in the closing minute of the half, propelling the fourth-seeded Buffaloes to a 5-0 victory over No. 29 Wednesday at the soggy “Swamp.” It was the 19th and 20th goals of the season for Gillis, part of a senior class that had never appeared in a playoff game.
Daniel Beccera, Kevin Del Mazo and Leo Falcone put home goals in the second half for Centennial League champion Smoky Hill, which played its first postseason contest since 2007. The Buffaloes (12-1-3) will play host to No. 13 Rangeview — a 2-1 winner over No. 20 Regis Jesuit — on Monday in an all-Aurora second round contest.
Gillis got coach Kerstan Mullan’s team off to a flying start just over a minute into the game when he redirected Del Mazo’s corner kick serve past Doherty goalkeeper Ryan Moldenhauer, but play evened out from there.
The Spartans pushed for the equalizer late in the half, but Del Mazo turned the ball around and found a streaking Gillis, who found a different gear in blowing by a pair of Doherty defenders to get a 1-on-1 chance against Moldenhauer, which he easily finished.
The floodgates opened for the Buffaloes in the second half when Gillis played the role of distributor, finding Beccera, who slipped a shot past Spartans replacement goalie Nick Pallisco.
Del Mazo scored a few minutes later and reserve Falcone put the finishing touches on the victory with his first goal of the season.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
(4) SMOKY HILL 5, (29) DOHERTY 0
Score by halves:
Doherty 0 0 — 0
Smoky Hill 2 3 — 5
SCORING
First half
Smoky Hill — Jeff Gillis (Kevin Del Mazo), 2nd minute; Smoky Hill — Gillis, 39th minute
Second half
Smoky Hill — Daniel Beccera (Gillis), 51st minute; Smoky Hill — Del Mazo, 58th minute; Smoky Hill — Leo Falcone (Beccera)
