Westminster’s boys soccer team. (Courtesy photo)
It took more than two overtimes — and two days — but No. 27-seeded Westminster upset No. 6 Arapahoe in the first round of the Class 5A boys soccer tournament on Friday afternoon.
The two teams began their playoff matchup at 4 p.m. Thursday, and battled to a 1-1 tie in regulation. The draw continued through one 15-minute overtime and into the next when darkness forced play to be suspended with 10:44 to play in the second extra frame.
At the moment of suspension, Arapahoe was set to attempt a free kick just outside of the Westminster box. If converted, the Warriors would win the game. (CHSAA’s postseason tie-breaking procedure dictates two sudden victory overtimes prior to penalty kicks.)
Officials took pictures of the teams on the field to ensure the same players would return upon resumption.
On Friday, Westminster arrived a little early and got some practice in on defending that free kick. The Wolves also worked on penalty kicks.
Arapahoe didn’t convert the free kick attempt when play resumed, and the two teams remained at a stalemate, forcing penalties.
“It was kind of cold coming out, but they did well defending,” first-year Westminster coach Ben Forbes said on Friday afternoon.
“Obviously our transportation helped us out in getting us here a little bit early, and we were able to do that walkthrough,” Forbes added. “Anytime you can simulate what’s going to happen, good things are going to happen from it.”
The two teams were tied through the first five attempts in the shootout at four goals apiece. So they moved on to sudden victory penalty kicks.
Westminster keeper Isaiah Mondragon then saved Arapahoe’s first attempt.
“The boys thought they had won it, and actually started running on the field,” Forbes said. “I was like, ‘No, boys, come back! We’re not done yet.'”
They returned to the bench, and Wolves’ junior Brandon Enriquez stepped up with a chance to win the game. He scored.
“Then they could go cheer,” Forbes said, laughing.
The end result — a 1-1, 5-4 win in penalty kicks — was the largest upset of the first round of the 5A tournament.
“Definitely a big motivator, and a big boost, a 27 seed upsetting a six seed,” Forbes said. “The boys are in high spirits about that.”
Westminster actually started this season 0-6-0. The Wolves have since gone 8-1-1, including one massive win on Friday.
“Right now we’re on a pretty good roll,” Forbes said.