ENGLEWOOD — Any doubters?
Smoky Hill entered the 2007 soccer season as the defending champion, but you would have been hard-pressed to find anybody outside of Aurora who thought the Buffaloes had any chance of repeating.
Danny Winsor’s crew proved that when it comes to soccer, Smoky Hill is king. The Buffs outplayed Centennial League rival and tournament top seed Grandview on Wednesday night at Pirate Stadium and won 3-1 for their third Class 5A title in four seasons and fourth since 2001.
“This team was very underrated,” a mild understatement from Winsor, the Smoky Hill coach. “These guys sort of came together and just did a nice job in believing in one another.”
The 10th-seeded Buffs (15-3-1) came from behind twice in the quarterfinals and again in the semis against Durango, but never trailed Wednesday.
Smoky Hill set the tone just five minutes in. Sophomore Stephen Solano Cargill worked around Grandview defender Tyler Lister then sent a perfect cross to Tommy Hrachovina on the far post, and the senior striker simply stuck his right foot out to redirect.
Grandview got even in the 18th minute when Zach Portillos-Grant finished a flurry in front of Smoky goalie Matt Howshar with a goal.
But before the Wolves (17-2-1), 1-0 winners against Smoky Hill in the regular season, could build on their momentum, the Buffs regained a lead they would never relinquish.
Tony Rosales, younger brother of former Smoky Hill standout goalie Miguel Rosales, and Cargill converted a 2-on-1 opportunity that Grandview keeper Brian Sherpe could do nothing but watch.
“I was waiting for Tony to shoot, but when he finally passed it, oh, man,” said Cargill, who was named The Denver Post’s MVP. “I just had to slide and put it in.”
Grandview, minus 6-foot-5 midfielder Lance Patterson (who received a red card in the semis) and coach Bruce Brown (red card in first round), had trouble in the midfield and never mounted a comeback.
“It really showed, and it hurt not having him out there,” Grandview interim coach Brian Wood said of Patterson.
Nick Fish had the best two chances to get Grandview back in the game late, but one chance went wide and the other was put away by Howshar.
Hrachovina added an insurance goal for the Buffs in the second half.
Smoky Hill 2 1 – 3
Grandview 1 0 – 1
Goals – SH: Hrachovina (Cargill), fifth minute; G: Potillos-Grant (Ruggles), 18th; SH: Cargill (Rosales), 22nd; SH: Hrachovina (Venter), 41st. Shots on goal – Smoky Hill 5-3 – 8; Grandview 2-5 – 7. Saves – Smoky Hill (Howshar) 1-5 – 6; Grandview (Sherpe) 3-2 – 5. Corner kicks – Smoky Hill 0-1 – 1; Grandview 3-2 – 5. Offsides – Smoky Hill 1-2 – 3; Grandview 1-0 – 1. Fouls – Smoky Hill 6-8 – 14; Grandview 5-6 – 11. Yellow cards – Cargill, SH, 33rd; Snyder, G, 75th; Rosales, SH, 77th; Saba, G, 80th; Je. Tirivipi, SH, 80th.
5A MVP
Stephen Solano Cargill just makes things happen. The Smoky Hill sophomore, sporting one red shoe and one blue shoe, set up the Buffaloes’ first goal and scored the game-winner Wednesday night. In all, Cargill scored three consecutive game-winners in the tournament.
Jon E. Yunt: 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com
