Englewood – It was Antonio Rosales’ turn Tuesday night to add his name to the Smoky Hill soccer legacy.
Welcome to the club, little brother.
The junior attacking midfielder scored in the ninth minute, and that was all older brother and goalkeeper Miguel Rosales needed to shut out Fort Collins 2-0 for the Class 5A state soccer championship – Smoky Hill’s fourth in the past eight years.
Miguel Rosales, who made six saves at Englewood High School’s Pirates Stadium for his 13th shutout off the season, first burst on the scene when he helped lead the Buffaloes to the 2004 state championship.
Older brother Jose guided the Buffaloes to their first state title in 1999.
“Now the whole family has won it here,” Antonio Rosales said.
The family tradition unfolded perfectly for the fifth-seeded Buffaloes as they grabbed the early lead and then grabbed the game by the throat when sophomore Matt Hammett made it 2-0 in the 21st minute. Smoky Hill had not allowed a goal in its previous five games and never really came close to letting one in Tuesday.
In a rematch of the 2005 championship won by Fort Collins, Smoky Hill (17-2-2) put on one of its better attacking displays of the season and was unwavering in defense.
“I credit my players in front of me a lot,” said Miguel Rosales, a two-time All-Colorado goalie and 2005 Gatorade player of the year. “Without them I wouldn’t be anywhere. I wouldn’t be ‘the best goalkeeper,’ like I supposedly am.”
The Lambkins (12-7-1) won it last season as a No. 9 seed but came in this season as the 18th seed, replacing 12 seniors from a year ago. There were good moments and bad moments for Fort Collins, but going down early by two goals was like rolling into Smoky Hill’s submission hold.
Fort Collins struggled to link passes in the attacking zone. Senior Steven Emory produced two good saves by Miguel Rosales off free kicks in the seventh and 12th minutes.
“Honestly, I thought we played well,” Lambkins coach Jason Odorizzi said. “In the first half, we had two letdowns. Overall, I thought we outplayed them in the first half. We were moving the ball around; offensively, we didn’t get the shots.”
Tyler Waggoner’s header found Antonio Rosales, The Denver Post’s most valuable player, as he slipped behind the Lamb- kins’ defense in the penalty area for a quick finish past freshman goalie Chris Couperus.
Hammett’s insurance goal was the result of a poor clearance by Fort Collins’ defense. The ball pinballed around outside the goal and fell to the forward for a roofing shot from the doorstep.
MVP
With Miguel Rosales in goal, any kind of a lead is probably enough for a win. Little brother Antonio Rosales got that lead in just the ninth minute with a well-timed run and a clinical, close-range finish Tuesday night to lead Smoky Hill to victory.
Fort Collins 0 0 – 0
Smoky Hill 2 0 – 2
Goals – A. Rosales (Waggoner), 9th minute; Hammett (unassisted), 21st minute.
Shots on goal – Fort Collins 3-3 – 6; Smoky Hill 4-2 – 6. Saves – Fort Collins (Couperus) 2-2 – 4; Smoky Hill (M. Rosales) 3-3 – 6.
Offsides – Fort Collins 1-0 – 1; Smoky Hill 2-0 – 2. Corner kicks – Fort Collins 2-1 – 3; Smoky Hill 4-3 – 7. Fouls – Fort Collins 2-11 – 13; Smoky Hill 7-7 – 14. Yellow cards – Ford, FC, 44th minute; Buderus, FC, 64th; Osorio, SH, 64th.
