ARVADA — Matthew Kerridge’s double-overtime goal came as a relief for just about everybody Tuesday at the North Area Athletic Complex.
The cold and wind had become sheets of blowing rain by the time the Golden senior moved across the top of the penalty area and laced a shot past Northridge goalkeeper Hector Valdez.
“It was a great pass from Jorge (Lopez),” Kerridge said while the stadium emptied as if Mothra had just been sighted. “I just took the pass from him and placed it in the corner.”
Kerridge’s second goal of the night gave the No. 11 Demons the 3-2 victory over the 22nd-seeded Grizzlies, pushing Golden into the second round of the Class 4A state tournament.
The Demons, who snapped a two-game losing streak, will play defending champions and sixth-seeded Rock Canyon (9-5-2) on Thursday for a spot in the quarterfinals.
The Demons (12-3-1) rallied from an early deficit with a penalty kick from Kerridge in the 31st minute, and took the lead in the 63rd minute on a goal from Lopez.
The Greeley-based Grizzlies (6-7-3) forced overtime when Jake Winn headed home his second goal of the afternoon four minutes before the end of regulation.
Northridge senior Josh Romero nearly sealed the upset three minutes into the second overtime but his shot sailed just wide. Two minutes later, in the 100th minute of play and just 10 minutes before the match would go to penalty kicks, it was Lopez cutting the ball to his left and finding Kerridge just outside the 18-yard box with the wind at his back.
“We knew they were a good team and we knew we had to bring it all, or we’d go home,” Kerridge said.
The Grizzlies end their season on a three-game skid, although one of those losses was a confidence-inspiring 3-2 setback against undefeated No. 1 seed and Northern League rival Broomfield.
Grizzlies coach Steve Brubacher felt that his team’s good fortune ebbed and flowed with their possession game. He didn’t think the elements would hinder his squad if they kept the ball down and played to feet.
“I thought we were taking advantage of the overtime,” he said. “Both periods … (but) they played composed and they got the winner.”
Winn’s opener came off a free kick, as did Lopez’s strike. Kerridge quickly took the free kick and found Ian Huff on the far side. Huff’s shot was parried by Valdez but Lopez jumped on the loose ball and poked it home.
Northridge 1 1 0 0 — 2
Golden 1 1 0 1 — 3
Goals – N: Winn (Hewitt), 27th minute; G: Kerridge (penalty kick), 31st; Lopez (unassisted), 63rd; N: Winn (Myers) 76th; G: Kerridge (Lopez), 100th. Shots on goal – Northridge 1-3-0-0 – 4; Golden 3-4-0-1 – 8. Saves – Northridge (Valdez) 2-3-0-0 – 5; Golden (Holub 49 minutes, Fluitt 51) 0-2-0-0 – 2. Offside – Northridge 0-0-0-0 – 0; Golden 2-1-0-0 – 3; Corner kicks – Northridge 1-0-0-0 – 1; Golden 7-3-0-0 – 10; Fouls – Northridge 6-13-3-0 – 22; Golden 8-7-0-0 – 15. Yellow card – Jacobson, G, 29th minute.
