(Andre Lyseight/CHSAANow.com)
AURORA – It was a sloppy, rainy night that would see an underdog advance to the Class 5A boys state soccer quarterfinals.
Mountain Vista senior midfielder Brent Lackey and junior midfielder Chase Pacheco helped lead their No. 28 Golden Eagles to a 2-1 victory over No. 12 Aurora Central. Lackey scored the first goal and in the second half, assisted on Pacheco’s winning goal.
“We came back from giving up a penalty kick,” said Pacheco. “We really fought back and changed the momentum. Giving up penalty kicks is the hardiest things to change the momentum and comeback from and we did it.”
Mountain Vista controlled the ball for the first 15 minutes of the game. Sophomore defender Cray Cordero got an early penalty kick to try and get his team an early edge, but his shot barley missed the goal.
Early on, it seemed like the Golden Eagles looked like they were bound to score and eventually, that’s exactly what they did. Lackey scored the first goal of the game with a power kick straight into the net giving his team a 1-0 lead.
“I think we were really resilient,” said Lackey. “Weather and everything just being slick, not really the greatest conditions to be playing in. We kept the ball on the floor and played really well. I enjoyed it.”
Aurora Central picked up the pace once Mountain Vista put themselves on the scoreboard. The Trojans were on the verge of scoring with a lot of activity around the goal, leading to a Mountain Vista penalty which set up a penalty kick for junior defender Jesus Dorado. He easily scored to tie the game up with 20 minutes remaining in the half.
The Trojans used their momentum to contain the ball in Golden Eagles territory for last 10 minutes of the half, getting multiple looks at the net before time expired.
To start the second half, both teams traded possessions with neither able to gain an early edge. Mountain Vista took plenty of shots at the goal, but Aurora Central goalie junior Ulysis Cosme Garcia was making impressive saves that could have easily been goals. On offense, the Trojans were able to get chances of their own, but none of their shots found the net.
Just when it looked like game was destined for overtime, Lackey passed the ball to Pacheco setting him up for the game winner with just five minutes left in regulation.
“We played fantastic,” Golden Eagles coach Theresa Echtermeyer said. “Considering the conditions we did a great job possessing. Trying to keep the ball, working it into the final third and connecting passes. Our pace was good and our composure was good. Playing against extremely strong team. Defiantly could have gone either way and that’s what you love about the playoffs.”
The Golden Eagles are confident in their chances to win as they prepare to play Arapahoe on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
“We stumbled a little bit in the beginning of the season,” said Lackey. “We caught our stride and we know that we can compete with any team out here.”
“I got to say were probably the most dangerous 28th seed the tournament has ever seen,” Pacheco added. “I wouldn’t want to play us.”