ARVADA — It took a little overtime work, but Columbine’s boys soccer team captured its fourth straight victory to close out the regular season Wednesday night.
A direct free-kick in the 85th minute by senior Davis Hovey was served into the goal box where Columbine senior Andrea D’Arcangelo was able to get a head on it. The ball was perfectly placed into the back of the net to give the Rebels a 1-0 overtime victory against Arvada West at the North Area Athletic Complex.
“All I was thinking was put the ball in a good spot. Float it in,” Hovey said. “I knew we had a ton of guys in there. We have Andrea and a lot of other guys who are good at heading the ball. I knew we had a really good chance. I was confident somebody could get something on it.”
The goal ended the scoreless game and pretty much ended any chance for A-West (6-6-3, 3-4-1 in Class 5A Jeffco League) to make the postseason.
“It was a perfect ball. A perfect cross,” D’Arcangelo said. “All I had to do was put the ball into the goal.”
The goal coming in for Columbine and A-West was not to be playing their last game of the season for Wednesday night. It was the 5A Jeffco League and regular-season finale for both the Rebels and Wildcats, but both still have hopes of making the 32-team field for the 5A state tournament that begins Oct. 27.
“Obviously the boys want to win every game,” Hovey said of the Rebels (10-5, 5-3). “A win going into the playoffs is huge. It keeps our momentum. If we would have lost we would be playing a tougher seed.”
Columbine dropped a trio of conference games in mid-September. The Rebels were able to put that in the rear-view mirror to go on the current 4-game winning streak where they have allowed just two goals.
A-West closed out its season with three straight losses. The Wildcats had a tough final three conference games against league champion Valor Christian, Lakewood and A-West.
“It was a good game,” D’Arcangelo said. “We played good and (Arvada West) played good. I think we played better in the end.”
The Rebels had the best scoring chances in the scoreless first half. A-West senior goalie Asher Sharp had a few nice saves, including making a diving stop to the ground on a direct free kick by Columbine junior Ty Santangelo.
A-West nearly ended it early in the overtime period, but junior goalie Chase Heck made his best save of the game minute before D’Arcangelo’s game-winning goal.
It looks like Valor, Lakewood, Columbine, Ralston Valley and Chatfield should make the playoffs. All were within the top 32 of the RPI standings to start the day Wednesday. Ralston Valley faces Bear Creek and Valor squares off against Chatfield in a doubleheader Thursday at Lakewood Memorial Field to wrap up league play in 5A Jeffco.
“I’m excited about these playoffs,” Hovey said.