Horizon’s Trevor Lemons (18) and Ralston Valley’s Erik Makic (9) chase after the ball Thursday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — Horizon moved on to the second round of the Class 5A boys soccer state tournament with a road victory Thursday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.
The No. 21 seeded Hawks scored a pair of goals in the first 10 minutes of the opening half on the way to a 3-1 win over No. 12 Ralston Valley.
Horizon senior Noah Engen was key in the two early goals for the Hawks (9-6-1). Engen served a perfect pass to sophomore Devin Marquez in the 6th minute. Marquez headed the ball over Ralston Valley junior goalie Jared Peterson for the 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later, Engen did it all himself with a long blast that found the back of the next. The Hawks led 2-0 after 10 minutes and held that two-goal lead at halftime.
Ralston Valley’s Erik Makic, Han Trznadel and John Newlon all had scoring chances late in the first half for the Mustangs. However, Ralston Valley (11-5) couldn’t cut into the 2-0 lead before halftime.
Ralston Valley senior Erik Makic (9) tries to get off a shot against Horizon. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletic)
Horizon added an insurance goal in the 54th minute with a goal from junior Sawyer Cirbo on Ralston Valley sophomore goalie Cooper Steputis, who came in at net for Peterson after the two early goals.
Ralston Valley did break up the shutout in the 68th minute with a goal off the foot of junior Nick Nowlen, but it wasn’t enough as Horizon held on first the victory.
Horizon moves onto the next round where it will face the winner of No. 28 Far Northeast Warriors and No. 5 Fairview on Wednesday, Nov. 2.
Horizon had success against 5A Jeffco teams during its regular season. The Hawks defeated Arvada West and Chatfield in late August to begin their season. Horizon entered the postseason on a three-game losing streak. The late-season skid included shutout losses to Broomfield and Fort Collins, both top-10 seeds for the 5A state tournament.
Ralston Valley’s Pete Siegrist (10) and Nick Nowlen try to settle the ball in the Mustangs’ playoff opener. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Ralston Valley, the 5A Jeffco League champs, had some remarkable statistics when it comes to its balanced offensive scoring this season. The Mustangs’ leading goal scorers during the regular season were senior Riley McNamara and Trznadel with four goals each. Ralston Valley had 11 different players put the ball into the back of the net in regular-season play.
First-year head coach Jamie Scarcliff, a Ralston Valley graduate, took over the post during the summer. She was named Coach of the Year in the 5A Jeffco League this fall. The Mustangs went undefeated in conference play winning the 5A Jeffco title.
Horizon players celebrate the Hawks’ second goal Thursday at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)