Arvada West junior Judah Johnston (17) tries to get past Arapahoe junior Garrett Lyles (18) during the first half Wednesday night at Littleton Public Schools Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LITTLETON — It was the soccer version of the hurry-up offensive play that helped Arapahoe’s boys soccer team advance to the Class 5A state quarterfinals.
The No. 8-seeded Warriors scored in the 15th minute on a lightning quick throw-in, centering pass and tap-in goal to take a 1-0 victory over No. 9 Arvada West on a chilly Wednesday night at Littleton Public Schools Stadium.
Arapahoe’s leading scorer — senior Cameron Gail — did most of the work after settling down a quick throw-in deep in A-West’s end. Gail was able to center a pass before the Wildcats’ defense could close in. The pass eventually found the foot of sophomore Jay Wolf who banged it past A-West senior goalie Latham Kleckner.
Arvada West sophomore Noah Kanagy (3) gets his foot on the ball in front of Arapahoe senior Zander Hahn during the Class 5A second-round state playoff game Wednesday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“I just knew we had the pace on them. So, I need I had to take a run on the outside,” Gail said talking about his assist on the lone goal of the night. “I got the cross in and (Wolf) made a run in front of his guy and got his foot on it. It was amazing.”
Arapahoe (14-1-2 record) moves on to get a crack at top-seeded and undefeated Fairview (17-0). The No. 1 Knights edged No. 16 Rock Canyon 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Fairview will host Arapahoe in the state quarterfinals on Saturday, Nov. 3.
“It means so much,” Gail said of the Warriors advancing into the quarterfinals. “If we can win (state) this year — we are trying our all — with all the stuff that has happened at our school it would be amazing. It would be awesome.”
Arapahoe dominated the run of play early on before eventually getting the goal from Wolf.
“I just think we weren’t ready to defend,” said A-West coach Troy Gette, who admitted the Wildcats had another slow start that has plagued them this season. “They kind of went fast on us and we weren’t ready yet.”
Arapahoe senior Noah Carl, right, battles with Arvada West sophomore Noah Kanagy on Wednesday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The Wildcats (13-4) did produce a handful of scoring chances after trailing 1-0. Senior Evan Keasling had a hard shot saved by Arapahoe senior goalie Spencer Cobb in the 23rd minute of the first half.
A-West sophomore Gabe Schultz and junior Judah Johnston provided pressure in the second half, but the Wildcats couldn’t manage to get the equalizing goal.
“I thought we played hard in the second half,” Gette said. “I really think we dominated in the second half. We just didn’t score.”
A-West’s previous deepest playoff run was in 2015. The Wildcats advanced to the 5A state quarterfinals. A-West has never won a boys soccer state championship. Gette will return a solid score that includes all his top scorers.
“The experience in playoffs is huge. You have to view it as a one-game tournament every playoff game,” Gette said. “This experience will hopefully carry over for next year.”
The Warriors have the chance to remain focused on this season after advancing to the quarterfinals for the third time in four seasons.
Arapahoe had back-to-back state quarterfinal appearances in 2015 and 2016. The Warriors are looking to win their sixth boys soccer state title. It has been more than two decades — 1997 — since Arapahoe lifted the 5A boys soccer state trophy.
Gail is fully aware how long the drought has been for the Arapahoe’s boys soccer program.
“It’s been since like 1997,” Gail said. “It would be amazing to win.”
Arapahoe sophomore Jay Wolf celebrates his goal Wednesday that would eventually send the Warriors into the Class 5A state quarterfinals. Arapahoe will face top-seeded Fairview on Saturday in Boulder. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)