FORT COLLINS — So much for flying under the radar.
The Regis Raiders have been in the shadows of Continental League giants Rangeview and Rock Canyon. But after a 3-1 victory Tuesday night over Poudre at J. Ray French Field, the Raiders, seeded No. 11 in the Class 5A soccer tournament, are in Saturday’s semifinals.
“Nobody ever gives us that much respect,” Regis senior midfielder Dirk MacDonald said. “We have to earn it all.”
The Raiders (14-4) return to the semifinals for the first time in three seasons to play Fort Collins at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Englewood Stadium. Range view bowed out to East and the Angels will play Bear Creek, a shootout winner against Fairview, in the other semifinal.
MacDonald and the Raiders struggled offensively in the first half against the speedy Impalas but kept up the pressure and took advantage of a break. Moments after a glorious chance scooted past the net, MacDonald capitalized.
He and three Poudre players, including goalie Daniel Zim lich, converged on a loose ball at the top of the box and it was MacDonald who got just enough of the ball to pop it up and spin it into the open net.
“I worked hard, but that was a great bounce,” he said.
The Raiders then got goals in the 46th and 47th minutes by senior Matt Nier.
The Impalas, 12-4-2, got a goal in the 55th minute from Malte Christensen.
Regis 1 2 — 3
Poudre 0 1 — 1
Goals — R: MacDonald (unassisted), 23rd minute; Nier (MacDonald), 46th; Nier (Cobb), 47th; P: Christensen (Miller), 55th.
Shots on goal — Regis 1-2 – 3; Poudre 2-3 – 5; Saves — Regis (Goetz) 2-2 -4; Poudre (Zimlich) 0-0 – 0. Corner kicks — Regis 2-0 – 2; Poudre 3-2 – 5; Offsides — Regis 0-1 – 1; Poudre 2-0 – 2. Fouls — Regis 1-6 – 7; Poudre 6-5 – 11. Yellow cards – Carpenter, P, 25th; Rossi, R, 75th.
Fort Collins 3, Green Mountain 1
Much like Regis, the Lambkins have been sort of an afterthought, but in their own city.
With No. 2 Rocky Mountain and No. 3 Poudre out, Fort Collins is the city’s lone remaining team after a win over Green Mountain at French Field.
“It feels pretty good,” Fort Collins senior Philip Clopper said. “We are the last team there. Now we want to be the last team standing.”
The 15th-seeded Lambkins (13-4-1), after losing their last two regular-season games by an aggregate score of 7-1, found a way to the semifinals for the first time since their title in 2005.
Clopper was on the receiving end of two great passes in the final 10 minutes of the first half. The first was a header by Salvador Gonzales that split three defenders and found Clopper for the easy finish past Rams goalie Riley Zelus.
Will Pomeroy hooked up with Clopper six minutes later for the game-winner.
Green Mountain’s Jason Carr made it 2-1 in the 53rd minute on a penalty kick.
Green Mountain 0 1 — 1
Fort Collins 2 1 — 3
Goals — FC: Clopper (Gonzales), 32nd minute; Clopper (Pomeroy), 38th; GM: Carr (penalty kick), 53rd; FC: Seville (Winchell), 62nd.
Shots on goal — Green Mountain 1-2 – 3; Fort Collins 4-2 – 6. Saves — Green Mountain (Zelus) 2-1 – 3; Fort Collins (Couperus) 1-1 – 2, (Solomon) 0-0 – 0. Corner kicks — Green Mountain 4-2 – 6; Fort Collins 2-1 – 3. Offsides — Gren Mountain 3-0 – 3; Fort Collins 2-4 – 6. Fouls — Green Mountain 5-8 – 13; Fort Collins 4-7 – 11. Yellow cards — Couperus, FC, 53rd; Clopper, FC 58th.
Jon E. Yunt: 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com
