They started from the bottom and now they are in the semifinals

Haley Rockwell • November 5, 2016

Barely making it into the state tournament, No. 30 Fossil Ridge High School is the talk of the soccer world. Having upset No. 3 Cherry Creek High School and No. 14 Lincoln High School, the Sabercats continue their run in the tournament. The team upset No. 6 Arapahoe High School 4-3 on Saturday, November 5.

Durand, Wilhelm, Martinez, and Chavarria celebrate as they score the first goal within 50 second of the game. Photo Credit: Daniel Brenner

The game started out at a fast pace with the Sabercats scoring in the first 50 seconds of the game. The goal was scored by Blair Durand and assisted by Jaime Chavarria. It all went up hill from there for the Sabercats as they continued to create several dangerous opportunities, surprising the Warriors.

10 minutes later, the duo of the night struck again, Durand with another goal and Chavarria with another assist. The Sabercats were leading 2-0 15 minutes into the game, an impressive start for the team.

The Warriors scored a counterattack goal less than 10 minutes later, closing the gap to 2-1. This goal didn’t put the Sabercats down, instead, they continued to play with high intensity.

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Martinez points to Fossil Ridge’s support section after scoring his goal. Photo Credit: Daniel Brenner

Minutes before the end of the first half, a handball was called against Arapahoe on the 20 yard line. Grant Martinez stepped up and took the kick, hammering it into the upper left corner of the goal. The Sabercats lead the Warriors 3-1 at halftime.

The second half called for physical play as both teams were determined to come out with a win and advance to the final four. 1 red card and 4 yellow cards were issued in the second half. 2 yellow cards were issued to Arapahoe while 2 yellow cards and the red card was issued to Fossil Ridge. Jay Mandravilli and Sam Goulding were given yellow cards and Chavarria was given the red card. Since Chavarria got a red card, he is not eligible to play in the semifinal game that will take place on Wednesday, November 9.

25 minutes into the second half Durand scored his third goal of the night and Chavarria got his third assist of the night. The two key players in the game were unstoppable as they connected passes and moved off of each other to create opportunities for the Sabercats. The score was 4-1 in favor of Fossil Ridge with 15 minutes left of play.

Chavarria was issued the red card in the 35 minute, causing the Sabercats to play down a man. Shortly after Chavarria was taken out of the game, the Warriors capitalized and scored. The score was 4-2 before Arapahoe was given a PK because keeper, Logan Wette fouled in the box. The PK was executed and the score changed to 4-3 still in favor of Fossil Ridge.

Zach Speed, the coach that has lead the Sabercats to make history. Photo Credit: Daniel Brenner

Time couldn’t go any slower as the game progressively came to a close, naming Fossil Ridge victorious. The final score being 4-3 and granting a spot in the semifinals for the Sabercats against No. 2 Boulder High School.

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About the Contributor

Haley Rockwell, Sports Editor

Senior Haley Rockwell is a dynamic character in the Fossil Ridge setting, bringing many dimensions to Etched in Stone as well as everything else she is involved in. Her in-depth athletic background enables her to contribute accurate stories on the many sports teams that compete for Fossil, making her leadership of sporting event coverage on the Etched in Stone publication crew. “I’m an athlete, so I’m involved in a lot of sports, and I think that gives me an advantage writing about it since I’m so passionate about it”, she said. As an ambitious soccer player, talented photographer, and member of the journalism program for the past three (now four) years , dedication is definitely a quality that Haley never fails to bring to the table. In fact, her hard work and dedication has earned her commitment to the University of Northern Colorado for soccer, where she is thinking about majoring in business with a minor in journalism. “Journalism has been a big part of my life for the past four years, so I want to continue to pursue it if I can!” she exclaimed.

Apart from being involved in journalism, athletics, and demanding academics, Haley is very interested in the arts. Alongside photography, she also finds peace in the relaxing qualities that drawing offers. “If I need something to escape from the stress of school and soccer, I’ll go draw instead”, she explained. The subject that she most frequently captures in her artwork are wolves, which she considers to be her personal spirit animal. A lover of animals, Haley also has a black cat at home named Shay. She is the oldest of two sisters, and knows very well the responsibilities of taking the lead and making crucial decisions. Haley’s talents are bound to pave a pathway that will take her far, no matter where she chooses to travel. Her strong sense of individuality, hard work, and passion are essential tools that will lead her to a bright and prosperous future.