Lakewood – Kim Boyer is confident, and the Class 4A girls state soccer playoffs are setting up exactly as the Ralston Valley senior would like.
Boyer assisted Sara Nicholson on the Mustangs’ first goal and clinched the game with a goal in the final minute to give Ralston Valley a long-awaited 3-1 victory over visiting Silver Creek (13-3-2) in the quarterfinals Thursday night at Jefferson County Stadium.
Not only did the Mustangs get past the quarterfinals after two seasons of earlier-than-expected exits from the postseason, Ralston Valley (16-2-1) will get a chance for revenge when it faces Niwot in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Saturday at Broomfield High School.
“That was a fluke,” said Boyer, referring to Ralston Valley’s shootout loss to Niwot in the quarterfinals last season. “We are definitely looking forward to beating them.”
Thirteen minutes into the game, Boyer lifted a crossing pass over the head of a Silver Creek defender to the far post. Nicholson rushed in from the right side and beat freshman goalkeeper Lauren Wolfinger to her far post for a 1-0 lead.
“We had a lot of shots. We just could not finish them,” Silver Creek coach Sarah Friend said.
Nicholson’s initial goal was the first Silver Creek surrendered in six games, but her second goal had everybody perplexed.
With little danger in front of the net, the Raptors defense shanked a clearing shot, and the ball slow-rolled past a defender and onto the foot of Nicholson. She then tapped in just inside the right post, beating a crawling Wolfinger.
Silver Creek 0 1 – 1
Ralston Valley 1 2 – 3
Goals – RV: Nicholson (Boyer), 13th minute; RV: Nicholson (unassisted), 59th; SC: Gunther (Russell), 76th; RV: Boyer (Hogan), 79th. Shots on goal – Silver Creek 2-6 – 8; Ralston Valley 4-6 – 10. Saves – Silver Creek (Wolfinger) 3-3, (team) 0-1 – 7; Ralston Valley (Bagby) 2-5 – 7.
Corner kicks – Silver Creek 1-2 – 3; Ralston Valley 1-4 – 5. Offsides – Silver Creek 1-4 – 5; Ralston Valley 1-0 – 1. Fouls – Silver Creek 2-2 – 4; Ralston Valley 9-9 – 18. Yellow cards – Nicholson, RV, 36th; Ranson, RV, 68th.
