Ralston Valley junior Hayden Miller, left, fires a shot off Cherry Creek junior Ian Elliott during the second half Thursday night at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — Cherry Creek junior Bryce Loui ended a long night of soccer at the North Area Athletic Complex.
Loui put the shot into the back of the net less than a minute into overtime to give the No. 22-seeded Bruins a 2-1 upset victory over No. 11 Ralston Valley. It was the second Class 5A boys soccer first-round playoff game to go overtime at the NAAC on Thursday night.
Arvada West also scored a quick goal early in overtime to edge Poudre in the first game of the playoff doubleheader.
“I flicked it over and saw the goalie wasn’t coming out,” Loui said talking about the game-winning goal in the 81st minute. “I just went out and got it. It ended up being nice.”
Cherry Creek junior Zach Lewis (16) advances the ball during the Bruins’ playoff win Thursday night in Arvada.
The Bruins had the disadvantage with going against a steady north wind to start the overtime period, but the goal seconds into the overtime didn’t allow the wind to play much of a factor.
“I was very surprised. I really wasn’t expecting it,” Loui said of his scoring chance so early in overtime. “They had us all game on defense. We had very few chances. I’m just happy to win.”
Cherry Creek’s other goal came in a strange manner. Junior Nolan Roberts kick off a restart from Ralston Valley’s first goal in the 21st minute rode the north wind and found the back of the net to tie things up 1-1.
Ralston Valley senior Mason Miller netted the Mustangs’ lone goal on a penalty, but Ralston Valley’s leading scorer wasn’t able to convert on a penalty kick in the 70th minute. Miller’s PK sailed over the net to keep the game tied at 1-1.
Cherry Creek junior Bryce Loui (2) walks off the field at NAAC as his teammates celebrate behind him.
(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Ralston Valley (9-5-2 record) came into the state tournament with plenty of momentum. The Mustangs were 4-0 in their final four regular-season games. They had outscored opponents 22-2 during the late-season stretch.
It’s the third straight first-round playoff loss for the Mustangs. Ralston Valley was bounced out of the state tournament in the opening round against Boulder in 2017 and Horizon in 2016. The last postseason win came in 2015 with a road victory against Fossil Ridge.
Cherry Creek (7-8-1) was able to grab a first-round playoff win last year before losing to eventual state champion Broomfield in the second round. The Bruins will hit the road to face No. 6 Cherokee Trail in the second round on Halloween — Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Cherry Creek senior Morey Schneider, right, is able to clear a ball out of danger before Ralston Valley senior Cort Johnson (4) can get to it Thursday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)