The Fossil Ridge soccer team defeated the number one seed Boulder Panthers 3-2 in overtime, moving on  to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Boulder scored the first goal early in the first half, catching the Sabercats off guard. However Fossil tied the game before halftime with a header from senior captain Will Boyle.

“I missed an easy one early on, I knew I had to make up for it. I saw the ball come in, I jumped as high as I could…and it went over the keeper’s head,” Boyle said.

Fossil came out the second half with a chip on their shoulder, and their offensive chances were rewarded with a goal from senior forward Nathan Riess. 

Boulder pushed back, and eventually coaxed the Sabercats into conceding a penalty kick. The Panthers converted on the penalty kick, tying the game at two with ten minutes left in the second half.

Both teams tightened up defensively, as neither team scored through the last ten minutes of the second half and the first overtime.

Fossil began to pressure more during the second overtime, resulting in a free kick from around fifty yards away. The kick was taken by senior Pedro Peres, who put it in the perfect spot for striker Sterling Bellendir, heading the ball into the goal, securing the win for the Sabercats.

“When I saw Sterling header that ball over [the goalkeeper], I just started yelling I was so excited. I was filled with emotion,” Peres said.

“I don’t remember it great. Just seeing all my boys come running from the sideline, it’s a feeling I’ll never forget,” Bellendir said.

This marks Fossil’s first win against Boulder in team history, despite playing them for over ten years during conference play.

“It feels amazing to knock off the one seed. I never beat Boulder once in my high school career, so it was good to do that,” Boyle said.

The Sabercats now look towards their quarterfinals matchup, traveling to play Rock Canyon on November 6 at 1 pm.

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