Colorado Springs – The action became more and more tense, with neither side giving up anything more than a look at the net before Broomfield lit up the second half.
The Eagles scored all their goals in the second half for a 4-0 win against Pueblo Centennial on Saturday in the Class 4A boys soccer semifinal game at Garry Berry Stadium.
Broomfield junior Nathan Kafer got things started.
“I was upset with some of my play early on, and it took a lot for us to find something within ourselves to pull away,” Kafer said.
In the 54th minute of action, Shay Aweida sent a crossing pass from the left side of the field, but the ball went behind teammate Kyle Reddy. No problem, since a wide-open Kafer controlled the pass and ripped a goal past Pueblo Centennial keeper Jeremy Ferguson.
“I got a perfect ball from Ryan Aweida, and after that we just got one goal after the other,” Kafer said.
Broomfield (18-1), the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, on Tuesday will try to knock off defending state champion Liberty for its third state title in history and first since 2002. The Eagles and Liberty met in the final in 2001 and 2002, and split those contests.
Pueblo Centennial (18-1) did not generate a corner kick, a proven catalyst for its offense this season, until the final minutes of play. The Bulldogs’ best chance for a goal came in the early going when Oscar Endara-Lopez ripped a shot from 25 yards out that Broomfield goalie Alex Hanson gobbled up.
“The second half, I don’t know what happened. I think they smelled blood in the water,” Pueblo Centennial coach Jeff Sterling said.
After Kafer loosened up the nets, Aweida followed with a goal less than two minutes later. Aweida was set up by a long lead pass by Marlin Boyer, and the two hooked up again for another Aweida goal in the 72nd minute.
“It was hard for us to move the ball, but once we found some space, everything opened up,” Aweida said.
Travis Boccard added an unassisted goal in the 75th minute to end what little doubt was left.
“We’ve had some history with Liberty for the last 10 years. Maybe this is our chance for revenge,” Aweida said.
Pueblo Centennial 0 0 – 0
Broomfield 0 4 – 4
Goals – Kafer (Aweida), 54th minute; Aweida (Boyer), 56th; Aweida (Boyer), 72nd; Boccard (unassisted), 75th.
Shots on goal – Pueblo Centennial 3-2 – 5; Broomfield 2-4 – 6. Saves – Pueblo Centennial (Ferguson) 2-0 – 2; Broomfield (Hanson) 3-2 – 5. Corner kicks – Pueblo Centennial 0-1 – 1; Broomfield 3-5 – 8. Fouls – Pueblo Centennial 5-5 – 10; Broomfield 4-11 – 15. Yellow card – Pospahala, PC, 59th; Koch, B, 80th.
