Boys soccer: Niwot falls to Evergreen in first round of playoffs

For 110 minutes last Wednesday, keeper Mario Munoz and the Niwot defense did what they’ve been doing all season—holding opponents scoreless. Unfortunately for the defense, however, the Cougars’ offense also did what it’s been doing all season—not converting on scoring chances.

And so it would go for Niwot’s first round playoff game against the Evergreen Cougars, last year’s 4A state champs. Niwot’s defense did its job, but scoring, or, more precisely, a lack thereof, would ultimately prove the team’s undoing, just as it has so many times this season.

Evergreen’s offense kept up pressure on Niwot through the game’s first half, and most of the second, though shots on goal were about even. The first 40 minutes of regulation ended with no score, as did the second period, despite seven shots on goal for each team. Munoz and Evergreen senior keeper Logan Westgard each had spectacular saves as the final minutes ticked away.

As the sun dipped out of sight and the unseasonably warm afternoon gave way to a chilly twilight, Niwot and Evergreen continued their scoreless battle, first through one 15-minute overtime period and then through a second. Play was stopped briefly in the 96th minute when Niwot junior Manuel Tapia went down with an arm injury.

Finally, with players on both teams weary and cramping from exhaustion, the teams lined up for a final shootout to decide the game.

Westgard stayed in goal for Evergreen, while Niwot called upon sophomore penalty-kick specialist Stian Cattell-Ravdal to stop Evergreen. Westgard allowed just one Niwot goal, while four Evergreen shots got by Cattell-Ravel. Evergreen would go on to win the shootout 4-1, and claim victory in the first round of the playoffs. Niwot, meanwhile, has now lost in the first round of playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Evergreen will face Air Academy on Nov. 1 in the second round of the 4A playoffs.