LAKEWOOD — The Fall 2021 boys soccer season started in familiar fashion that the COVID Season C ended for Columbine and Green Mountain last spring.
The Rebels and Rams tied in a late-season game in mid-April. Nearly four months later Columbine and Green Mountain opened up Lakewood Memorial Field with a non-conference — Class 5A Jeffco versus Class 4A Jeffco — on Thursday.
“It was a good battle last spring,” Columbine coach Brian Todd said of the Rebels’ tie against the Rams back on April 17. “It was a tough game in regards to what everyone battled with the COVID season. It was another really close one today.”
Columbine took the season-opening victory Thursday night with a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory. Sophomores Keagan Gerrasch and Jack Santangelo spearheaded the offense for the Rebels scoring both of the goals.
Gerrasch set up the game winner taking a shot from the middle of the goalie box on Green Mountain senior goalie Travis Dove. While Dove made the initial save, Santangelo was able to get to the loose ball and drive it into the back of the next in the 84th minute for the walk-off victory.
“We wanted a goal and we wanted to get out of here quick,” Gerrasch said of what was said during the 5-minute break before the start of overtime.
Columbine clearly didn’t want to settle for tie. The Rebels are coming off a tough season last school year where Columbine finished with a 1-6-2 record.
“We put some good four minutes of soccer in overtime and was able to capitalize,” Todd said.
Gerrasch scored the lone goal in the opening half. The Rebels were able to score a transition goal with Gerrasch beating Dove in the 29th minute.
“I think we just stepped up and realized we had to move the ball better,” Gerrasch said. “We started playing in our triangles and one thing led to another. We had a great ball through and a great goal.”
Green Mountain had a prime opportunity to tie the game late in the first half, but a penalty kick by Ben Krajewski sailed high. However, the Rams got another penalty kick chance in the second half.
Junior Kuba Betlinski didn’t miss the mark with his penalty kick shot in the 57th minute. Columbine junior goalie Chase Heck wasn’t able to make the save as the Rams knotted the game up at 1-1.
The Rams are trying to bounce back after also having a tough Season C season last spring. Green Mountain went 1-5-3 during the shortened season that was delayed until the spring because of the pandemic.