For a team that has taken its share of lumps this season, it was fitting that Regis’ goal Tuesday night came against the ever-present wind at the North Area Athletic Complex.
Keelin Winters scored in the 26th minute to cap a skillful move down the right side to earn the 17th-seeded Raiders a 1-0 victory over No. 16 Evergreen in the opening round of the Class 4A girls state soccer tournament.
The Raiders (6-8-1) won their second consecutive game and fourth in their past six after shaking off a seven-game losing streak playing in the Class 5A Continental League.
“I think they thought we weren’t going to be very good because we’re Regis, and we’re just a second-year school,” Winters said of the Cougars. “We have very decent players on this team.”
The Raiders advance to face top-seeded Broomfield (14-1-1), which defeated South 10-0 on Tuesday. Regis coach Jon Jacobs, for one, likes the draw.
“I think the thing with this groups now is that they’ve been underdogs all year,” Jacobs said. “They kind of are liking the fact that they are still the underdogs.”
Evergreen (8-7-1), from the Jefferson County League, had moments of possession outside the Regis penalty area but was unable to generate any strong scoring opportunities. The Cougars had just one shot on goal, but none during the first half with the wind at their backs.
“We didn’t play our best soccer in the first half,” Evergreen coach George Pavlantos said.
Evergreen’s best scoring chance fell to junior Laura Wilson in the 20th minute. She dribbled across the top of the penalty area but fired just wide of the right post.
Winters put Regis in charge six minutes later with a weaving drive down the right side.
“I beat (Evergreen defender Lisa Schulte), and … she didn’t know which way I was going to go,” Winters said. “I basically just passed it in. I didn’t have to hit it very hard at all.”
Regis 1 0 – 1
Evergreen 0 0 – 0
Goal – Winters (unassisted), 26th minute.
Shots on goal – Regis 4-1-5; Evergreen 0-1-1. Saves – Regis (Kenealy) 0-1-1; Evergreen (Gooch 40, Creel 45) 3-1-4. Offsides – Regis 1-0-1; Evergreen 1-0-1. Corner kicks – Regis 1-2-3; Evergreen 2-0-2. Fouls – Regis 3-8-11; Evergreen 7-4-11. Yellow cards – Sutherland, E, 40th minute; Jacobs, R, 62nd minute; bench, R, 62nd; M. Schulte, E, 68th.
