Lakewood – Fort Collins knows all about getting a fresh start in the playoffs.
The Lambkins could have written a book about it last season after emerging from a pack of maybes to win the Class 5A state championship.
Although not under the radar this season, Fort Collins found itself seeded 18th in the boys soccer state tournament bracket after an up-and-down regular season and on the road Tuesday against No. 15 Wheat Ridge.
But the Lambkins found a little of that old swagger.
“When we’re hot, we’re hot,” said junior Aaron Skipworth, who scored two second-half goals to lead the Lambkins to a 3-1 victory at Lakewood Memorial Field.
Damir Trncic’s header opened the scoring for the fast-starting Lambkins (9-6-1) in the 22nd minute before the Farmers settled down and equalized in the 39th on a goal from Tim Johnson.
Wheat Ridge looked dangerous until Skipworth stunned the Farmers with a fantastic goal five minutes into the second half. He clinched the game with a tap-in goal in the 57th.
Skipworth’s game-winner came off a nice pass down the left side by senior Aaron Kepler. Skipworth ran to the ball and volleyed it across the goal, beating freshman goalie Alex Merrill to his far post.
“You don’t get a lot of chances, especially with a ball of that caliber,” Skipworth said. “I did definitely just go for it, and what the heck, you got nothing to lose. It’s the state playoffs.”
Kepler had a strong game in the midfield, as did the versatile Alexander Deitz – an all-Colorado defender last season – and senior Steve Emory. Lambkins coach Jason Odorizzi shifted Deitz and Kepler around during the game to spark the attack or mark Wheat Ridge’s talented midfielder Paolo Del Piccolo.
“We can move them up top, we can move them back. They give us a totally different look, but still strong,” Odorizzi said.
The Farmers (11-4-1) nearly gave up a goal in the first 20 seconds to Jordan Dahlinger and took awhile to recover until Johnson’s cutting shot – their first of the game – beat goalie Chris Coupres.
The Farmers nearly took the lead 30 seconds later when Reid Hukari back-heeled a shot from 10 yards out that was saved by a Fort Collins defender.
The crucial third goal came when Merrill dropped Colby Ford’s cross right to the feet of Skipworth.
“We played well enough to get the job done, it’s just we made some silly mistakes at the wrong time,” Farmers coach Jay Hamilton said.
Fort Collins will play No. 2 Northglenn on Thursday. The Front Range League teams played to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 20.
Fort Collins 1 2 – 3
Wheat Ridge 1 0 – 1
Goals – FC: Trncic (Emory), 22nd minute; WR: Johnson (unassisted), 39th; FC: Skipworth (Kepler), 45th; Skipworth (unassisted), 57th.
Shots on goal – Fort Collins 5-5 – 10; Wheat Ridge 2-2 – 4. Saves – Fort Collins (Coupres) 1-1 – 2; Wheat Ridge (Merrill) 3-3 – 6. Offsides – Fort Collins 3-4 – 7; Wheat Ridge 0-1 – 1. Corner kicks – Fort Collins 3-2 – 5; Wheat Ridge 0-0 – 0. Fouls – Fort Collins 6-10 – 16; Wheat Ridge 9-5 – 14. Yellow cards – Hukari, WR, 31st minute; Freeman, WR, 52nd; Skipworth 57th.
