Thornton – Get Smoky Hill’s Miguel Rosales a one-goal lead any way possible, and the spring-loaded goalkeeper will get the win.
After Byron Cephers registered a goal with his back, Rosales went into action and turned aside a flurry of attempts by Cherry Creek for the Buffaloes’ 2-0 victory in the Class 5A boys state soccer semifinals Saturday night at Five Star Stadium.
“That goal gave us the extra boost we needed,” Rosales said.
Smoky Hill (14-3-2), the seventh seed, will try to defend its title against Fort Collins at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
After a scoreless first half, a Cherry Creek defender sent the ball back to goalkeeper Connor Hutchinson, who by rule is not allowed to play the ball with his hands in that situation.
Hutchinson waited and Cephers charged in from about 30 yards out to put the pressure on. By the time Hutchinson tried to clear, Cephers jumped up, turned his back and deflected the ball in for the goal in the 45th minute.
“He was going to make a mistake because he is an inexperienced goalie. I just charged him and got a goal out of it,” Cephers said.
Said Hutchinson: “I tried to clear it. I’m really disappointed in myself.”
Cherry Creek ended its season with a 15-4 record.
On the other end of the field, Rosales was a mixture of pure skill and a bit of luck.
After Smoky Hill’s Tyler Burns added a goal by shaking a defender and beating the keeper one-on-one in the 63rd minute, the Bruins’ offense suddenly came alive.
Cherry Creek put 10 shots on goal in the second half, but no chances came as close as two attempts in quick succession in the 64th minute.
First, Evan Lengerich ripped a deep shot straight on that sent Rosales to the floor on the save. The ball bounced back out in front, and Aric Goodman followed, trying to loop it over Rosales. But Rosales managed to get off the ground and get a hand up, sending the try just over the crossbar.
“We know he is the best goalie in the state. With him in goal, it’s like having an extra defender on the field,” Burns said.
Smoky Hill 0 2 – 2
Cherry Creek 0 0 – 0
Goals – Cephers (unassisted), 45th minute; Burns (unassisted), 63rd.
Shots on goal – Smoky Hill 4-5 . 9; Cherry Creek 3-10 . 13. Saves – Smoky Hill (M. Rosales) 3-9 – 12, (team) 0-1 – 1; Cherry Creek (Hutchinson) 4-3 . 7. Corner kicks – Smoky Hill 4-3 – 7; Cherry Creek 2-7 – 9. Fouls – Smoky Hill 5-9 – 14; Cherry Creek 6-2 – 8. Offsides – Smoky Hill 0-1 – 1; Cherry Creek 0-0 – 0. Yellow cards – T. Rosales, SH, 50th; Cephers, SH, 57th.
