It was 1968 when Steppenwolf gave us “Magic Carpet Ride.”
Nearly 40 years later, it’s the theme song for the Rocky Mountain soccer team and its late-season playoff push.
The 20th seed in the 32-team Class 5A bracket, the Lobos drifted into Saturday’s semifinal round with a 1-0 win over East Wednesday afternoon and will meet Grandview, a team they lost 4-0 to in regular-season play, at 12:15 at Englewood Stadium.
“When we looked at the bracket, we thought we had a chance,” Rocky Mountain coach Daniel Ibañez said. “Now we are facing off against a top- tier team, and that’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Both teams had their runs, but it was Rocky (11-6-1) that converted the opportunity when it presented itself.
In the 53rd minute, senior Kyle Emge was hawked by defenders in the corner, but managed to get a cross to a wide open Ryan Kawulok on the near post.
An unmarked Kawulok made a quick one-touch play on the ball and beat Angels goalie Grant Simon just inside that near post.
“I was a little surprised, because the whole game we were fighting to get that spot,” Kawulok said. “I got in the box and nobody was around me, I was like, ‘I got to put this one away.”‘
East (14-4) had one real good opportunity in the closing minutes to equalize, but Zach Bolden’s attempt was turned away by junior Roberto Perez.
“They executed and did what they needed to do, and that was get the ball in the back of the net, and we didn’t,” East coach Beth Hinz said.
Rocky Mountain 0 1 – 1
East 0 0 – 0
Goal – Kawulok (Emge), 53rd minute.
Shots on goal – Rocky Mountain 4-2 – 6; East 3-2 – 5. Saves – Rocky Mountain (Perez) 3-2 – 5; East (Simon) 4-1 – 5. Corner kicks – Rocky Mountain 4-2 – 6; East 4-1 – 5. Offsides – Rocky Mountain 1-0 – 1; East 1-0 – 1. Fouls – Rocky Mountain 6-5 – 11; East 4-8 – 12.
