Lakewood – The Columbine Rebels began Tuesday night with two left feet but managed to finish in a waltz against Poudre.
The 13th-seeded Rebels gave up a soft goal in the second minute and looked unnerved before roaring back with four goals in a 20-minute span for a 4-1 victory over the No. 20 Impalas in the first round of the Class 5A state soccer tournament.
Forward Pasquale Murillo scored two goals, tying the game in the 24th minute, then adding a classy finish in the 40th minute, to cap the rally at Lakewood Memorial Field. Murillo also had a hand in Columbine’s third goal when his pressure on a long ball in the 39th minute led to an own goal.
“I was really pleased with the way we responded,” Columbine coach Peter Horvath said. “In a lot of big games, we made one mistake that has really hurt us.”
The Rebels (11-4-1) won their fourth straight and will play the winner of today’s game between fourth-seeded Grandview and No. 29 Lakewood.
Columbine sophomore midfielder Kyle McClure scored the game-winning goal in the 28th minute when he pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area and ripped a shot past Poudre goalie Alexander Engeman.
The Impalas (8-7-1) lost for the first time in five games.
Poudre got off to a glorious start when Shane Ritchie tapped in the opening goal after a long throw in by Johannes Mnich. Columbine goalie Ty Werges misjudged the ball and had it bounce over his head for Ritchie to slot home.
Striker Dion Bubar-Hall came close three minutes later with a long shot that Werges pushed over the crossbar before the Rebels rallied behind a confident possession game.
Cory Gournic fed Murillo for the equalizer with a nice pass deep into the penalty area, four minutes before McClure’s go- ahead goal, which seemed to deflate the visitors.
“If we get another break and it’s 2-0, as opposed to them getting two breaks, then maybe it’s a different game,” said Poudre coach Nick Holley, whose team finished fourth in the Front Range League.
Columbine was up 3-1 at halftime and salted the victory away when Murillo redirected a low cross from midfielder Scott Cady in the 44th minute. Cady charged down the left side and managed to center the ball despite being closely marked by a defender.
Poudre 1 0 – 1
Columbine 3 1 – 4
Goals – P: Ritchie (Mnich), 2nd minute; C: Murillo (Gournic), 24th; McClure (unassisted), 28th; Own goal, 39th; Murillo (Cady), 44th.
Shots on goal – Poudre 5-2 – 7; Columbine 4-1 – 5. Saves – Poudre (Engeman) 2-0 – 2; Columbine (Werges) 4-2 – 6. Corner kicks – Poudre 5-3 – 8; Columbine 0-1 – 1. Offsides – Poudre 0-1 – 1; Columbine 0-2 – 2. Fouls – Poudre 4-9 – 13; Columbine 4-3 – 7. Yellow card – Aylward, P, 60th minute.
