D’Evelyn sophomore Wesley Tedstrom makes a run from midfield Tuesday night in the Jaguars’ second-round Class 4A boys soccer state tournament game against Fort Lupton at Lakewood Memorial Field. Tedstrom’s goal in the 42nd minute helped D’Evelyn to a 2-0 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)
LAKEWOOD — A picturesque goal in the 11th minute by sophomore Charles Doebbler was all the scoring D’Evelyn needed Tuesday night to advance into the quarterfinals of the Class 4A boys soccer state tournament.
No. 4 seed D’Evelyn snagged a 2-0 victory against No. 13 Fort Lupton at Lakewood Memorial Field. Sophomore Wesley Tedstrom scored an insurance goal in the 42nd minute while Jaguars’ senior goalkeeper Chris Linden picked up his seventh shutout of the season in net.
Fort Lupton junior Genaro Arellano (10) looks up field as D’Evelyn junior Daniel Bernard closes in during the first half Tuesday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)
“It’s really been unbelievable how well we’ve played,” Linden said after the 4A Jeffco League champions improved to 15-2 on the season. “We’ve just found ways to win games and stuck with our system. It hasn’t always been the prettiest. We are just trying to get wins.”
Linden had six saves on the night. His best came in the 23rd minute on a header from Fort Lupton junior Genaro Arellano. It appeared Arellano’s header from point-blank range was destined for the back of the net, but Linden made a leaping save tipping the ball over the crossbar on the would-be, game-tying goal.
“Chris has been huge for us in goal all year for us,” D’Evelyn coach Paul Moline said. “We haven’t had to call on him a lot this season, but when we do that is what he does. He was clean on everything and doesn’t give up a second chance.”
The Blue Devils offensive punch of senior Victor Sanchez (21 goals) and Arellano (eight goals) were kept in check for the majority of the night. The Colorado 7 League champions outshot D’Evelyn 6 to 4, but couldn’t get one past Linden.
It was the first time all season Fort Lupton (12-3-2) had been shut out.
D’Evelyn made the most of its four shots. Doebbler’s goal was set up from a great pass from the outside from senior Christian Denton.
Fort Lupton junior Fabian Lujan, front, and D’Evelyn sophomore Mario Gori battle for the ball in the second half Tuesday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. D’Evelyn took a 2-0 victory to advance into the Class 4A state quarterfinals. (Dennis Pleuss)
“Charley (Doebbler) has been waiting all season for that goal,” Moline said. “We talked about going wide and then finding the inside seam. We knew those lanes would be open. It was a great shot.”
It was only the second goal on the season for Doebbler.
“I was just in the right spot. Christian (Denton) played me a great ball,” Doebbler said. “I was putting in special effort (in practice) on that shot. It was handed to me on a silver platter.”
Tedstrom’s goal was a hard shot from the wing that went far post to beat Fort Lupton senior goalie Jesus Arellano. It was Tedstrom’s team-leading 11th goal on the season for the Jaguars.
Next on D’Evelyn’s plate is a state quarterfinal date Saturday, Nov. 1 against No. 5-seeded Niwot. The game will be played at Lakewood Memorial Field. Time of the game will be announced later this week. The Cougars took a 2-1 victory against Centaurus on Tuesday afternoon in their second-round game.
There is some playoff history between D’Evelyn and Niwot. In Moline’s words, the Cougars “shelled” the Jaguars 7-2 last year in the first round of the state tournament.
“To have them (Niwot) here (Lakewood Memorial Field), we are going to look forward to it,” Moline said.
D’Evelyn junior Jack Draeb (20) slices through Fort Lupton’s Alan Perez (3) and Luis Guerra (15) during the second-round playoff game Tuesday night at Lakewood Memorial Field. (Dennis Pleuss)