ENGLEWOOD — With its starting goalkeeper on the sideline, Air Academy knew it would be vulnerable if its rugged Class 4A semifinal showdown against Mullen reached penalty kicks.
Junior Nathan Rubio made sure the drama didn’t last quite that long.
Rubio scored the winning goal off an assist from Jordan Zand with 9:03 remaining in the second overtime, lifting the Kadets to a 2-1 victory Saturday at Englewood. The No. 2-seeded Kadets are 18-1.
“I just told (Zand) to flick it, and it bounced our way that time,” Rubio said.
Kadets keeper Peter Vogrin suffered a knee injury in the first half and is doubtful for Wednesday’s final.
Air Academy took a 1-0 lead on Rubio’s first goal in the 42nd minute, but Mullen’s Louis Benson beat Kadets backup goalie Christian Elsner with a tying goal.
“After Mullen got their goal, we got a little bit panicky,” Air Academy coach Espen Hosoien said. “We haven’t been in a lot of semifinals, and it is easy to start getting away from what works.”
Mullen 0 1 0 0 — 1
Air Academy 0 1 0 1 — 2
Goals — AA, Rubio, 41:07; M, Benson, 66:31; AA, Rubio (Zand), 100:57. Shots on goal — M 1-1-1-0—3; AA 3-2-0-1—6. Saves — M (O’Connor 4); AA (Vogrin 0; Elsner 2). Corner kicks — M 0-1-0-0—1; AA 3-2-0-1—6. Fouls — M 3-7-1-0—11; AA 2-6-0-0—8. Offsides — M 0-1-1-1—3; AA 0-1-0-1—2. Yellow cards — M, Urie; AA—Garvin.
Broomfield 1, Evergreen 1 (Broomfield advances on penalty kicks 4-3)
Eagles goalkeeper Brendan Buchanan made two stellar saves during the penalty-kick round, and Thomas O’Brien punched home the clincher.
Broomfield (14-2-3) was on the cusp of being eliminated on the fifth round of the penalty kicks, but Cougars sophomore Dan Jensen saw his potential winner thwarted by a kick save from Buchanan. Evergreen’s next two chances sailed high, setting up O’Brien’s winner.
“Over my 14 years, (Buchanan) is the most dialed-in goalkeeper I’ve ever coached in PK’s,” Broomfield coach Jim Davidson said. “That’s a testament to him and our goalkeepers coach, Carl Morreale.”
Broomfield 1 0 0 0 (4) — 1
Evergreen 1 0 0 0 (3) — 1
Goals — E, own goal by Broomfield, 33:00; B, O’Brien (Arko), 36:30; Shots on goal — B 1-1-0-1—3; E 2-1-1-1—5. Saves — B (Buchanan 5); E (Lederer 2). Corner kicks — B 2-2-1-1—6; E 2-1-0-1—4. Fouls — B 4-3-0-0—7; E 2-4-2-0—8. Offsides — B 2-2-0-0—0; E 0-1-0-0—1. Yellow cards — B, Mendez, O’Brien; E—Hentges.
